Facile synthesis of cuprous oxide nanooctahedra using electrodeless deposition

A facile electrodeless deposition method was developed for the preparation of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanooctahedra by immersing different metal substrates with patterns or scratches on surface into a solution consisting of cupric sulphate (CuSO4) and lactic acid (LA). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examinations show that the formation of Cu2O nanooctahedra is attributed to the reducibility of metal substrates. Cu2O nanooctahedra can form only when the reducibility of metal substrates is more active than that of Cu. The optical properties and photocatalytic activity of Cu2O nanooctahedra were also investigated.