Synthesis and self‐assembled mechanism of CuO peony‐flowers by a composite hydroxide‐mediated approach at low temperature

A composite-hydroxide mediated (CHM) method was utilized for the synthesis of CuO peony-flower nanostructures under temperatures ranging between 25 and 160 degrees C. The CHM mechanism was confirmed through X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD) and a Thermo-Gravimetric Differential Scanning Calorimeter (TG-DSC). Cu(NO3)(2) was shown to transform into Cu(OH)(2) in the mixed alkalis (NaOH/KOH); the reaction was facilitated by the solvent properties of the mixed alkalis. Cu(OH)(2) subsequently consumed H2O in the adsorption of the mixed alkalis at 25 approximate to 65 degrees C. At higher reaction temperatures (>65 degrees C), the Cu(OH)(2) was seen to decompose at an accelerated rate. Therefore, crystalline CuO could be obtained not only above 65 degrees C but also at 25 degrees C. The crystal morphology and structure of CuO were examined through Filed Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). It was determined that the CuO peony-flower had a polycrystalline structure composed of single crystalline CuO petals. Using the Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) results, the rings were indexed as (002), (111), (112), (202) and (-113), which was in agreement with the XRD results. With increasing temperature, the CuO flower petals self-assembled through random aggregation and gathered CuO nanorod parts, which led to incomplete CuO flower petals through orientated aggregation. Prolonged reaction time led to the growth of CuO flower petals in the direction of [001]. An ideal CuO flower structure was observed through TEM observation.