Synthesis and Characterisation of Copper Oxide nanoparticles Prepared by Thermal decomposition Method

Schiff bases are formed when any primary amine reacts with an aldehyde or a ketone under specific conditions. Structurally, a Schiff base (also known as imine or azomethine) is a nitrogen analogue of an aldehyde or ketone in which the carbonyl group (CO) has been replaced by an imine or azomethine group. Schiff base ligands are easily synthesized and form complexes with almost all metal ions [1]. Metal oxide nanoparticles have shown their great interest in field of sensing ,optoelectronics ,catalysis and solar cells due to their unique physical and chemical properties differing from bulk. Among all the metal oxides copper oxide nanomaterials have attracted more attention due to its unique properties. Cu2O (Cuprous oxide) and CuO (Cupric Oxide) are two important oxide compounds of Copper [2]. The typical preparation of Copper (II) complex, 1 mol of copper nitrate threehydrate Cu (NO3)2.3H2O and 2 mol of salicylaldehyde (C7H6O2) were dissolved in 10 mL of ethanol to form homogeneous solutions. Few drops of ammonia solution were added until pH 6-8. Then thiourea solution was added dropwise to the above solution with stirring. The mixture was allowed to reflux under stirring for 8 h. Copper Oxide CuO nanoparticles were synthesized by the thermal decomposition method. The above complex was grinding steps to ensure the homogenrous powder then was heated at 690°C for 2 h in a conventional furnace. The dark precipitate is obtained, filtered and washed with ethanol to remove the impurities, which results the CuO nanoparticles. In the present paper, we have prepared CuO nanoparticles from Copper (II) Schiff base complex as a new precursor. The complex and CuO are identified by FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy and Conductance measurements. The typical XRD pattern of the CuO nanoparticles exhibited the monoclinic structure of CuO. FTIR spectra exhibit only two vibrations: occurring at approximately 573 cm–1 and 637 cm–1 for the sample, which can be attributed to the vibrations of CuO, confirming the formation of highly pure CuO nanoparticles.