Synthesis of copper oxide nanomaterials and the growth mechanism of copper oxide nanorods

A novel and simple solid-state reaction in the presence of a nonionic surfactant, NP9, has been developed to synthesize copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles with different diameters. CuO nanorods were synthesized in the circumstances of different molten salts and heat treatment temperatures. The CuO nanoparticles and nanorods were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The influence of molten salts and temperature to the growth of CuO nanorods and the effect of NP9 on the size and morphology of CuO particles were discussed. A solid-state growth mechanism was put forward and applied to explain the growth of CuO nanorods.