One-step green synthesis of cuprous oxide crystals with truncated octahedra shapes via a high pressure flux approach

Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) was synthesized via reactions between cupric oxide (CuO) and copper metal (Cu) at a low temperature of 300 °C. This progress is green, environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Cu2O crystals with truncated octahedra morphology were grown under high pressure using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) with a molar ratio of 1:1 as a flux. The growth mechanism of Cu2O polyhedral microcrystals are proposed and discussed.