Microwave-Assisted Synthesis and Characterization of CuO Nanocrystals.

CuO feather-like and flower-like crystals have been synthesized by a fast microwave-assisted solution approach using Cu(NO3)2 and NaOH. The morphology transformation of CuO could be achieved by ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM]BF4). With [BMIM]BF4, flower-like CuO were obtained, whereas without [BMIM]BF4, feather-like CuO were obtained. The possible formation mechanism of flower-like CuO was discussed on the basis of experimental results. The products were characterized by XRD, FESEM/EDS, and TEM/SAED. In addition, the adsorption of [BMIM]BF4 on flower-like CuO was confirmed by FTIR and TG/DSC, and the band gap energies of the flower-like CuO was estimated by UV-vis spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]