Synthesis of cuprous oxide nanoparticles by mechanochemical oxidation of copper in high planetary energy ball mill

Nanoparticles cuprous oxide with an average mean crystallite size of about 11 nm was synthesized through solid state oxidation of Cu powder using a high energy planetary ball mill in oxygen atmosphere. The structural and morphological changes during process were analyzed using XRD and TEM techniques. It was found that the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami model appropriately explained the kinetics of mechanochemical synthesis of Cu2O nanoparticles. According to the value of the Avrami exponent, the interface controlled growth was the conversion mechanisms involved during the mechanochemical oxidation of Cu powder.