Copper(I) oxide and metallic copper particles formed in 1,2-propane diol

Chemical composition, particle size, and structure formation of colloidal Cu2O and metallic Cu synthesized from Cu(II) acetate in an environmentally friendly 1,2-propane diol were studied dependent on the temperature and concentration of the precursor. Cu2O as a reaction intermediate is formed between 150 and 170 °C, while its reduction to metallic Cu occurs between 170 and 180 °C. Average particle sizes of non-agglomerated Cu powders varied from 100 nm to 1 μm.