Assembly of nano-domain buildings blocks of copper oxalate with a cubic morphology

摘要

Metallic copper nanostructured particles were synthesised by thermal decomposition of a CuC_2O_4 precursor obtained via the precipitation reaction between Cu(NO_3)_2.6H_2O and Na_2C_2O_4 in the present of hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) were used to characterise the particles and their evolution during the transformation to metallic copper. We highlight the nanostructured nature of the oxalate precursor, which is made up of anisotropic nanosized buildings blocks (25nm by 40nm). These produce an anisotropy in the oxalate particle and influence the decomposition pathway. The results show the evolution of the nanostructure as a function of degree of reaction and a possible kinetic model is discussed.