Nonequilibrium synthesis and assembly of hybrid inorganic-protein nanostructures using an engineered DNA binding protein

We show that a protein with no intrinsic inorganic synthesis activity can be endowed with the ability to control the formation of inorganic nanostructures under thermodynamically unfavorable (nonequilibrium) conditions, reproducing a key feature of biological hard-tissue growth and assembly. The nonequilibrium synthesis of Cu(2)O nanoparticles is accomplished using an engineered derivative of the DNA-binding protein TraI in a room-temperature precursor electrolyte. The functional TraI derivative (TraIi1753::CN225) is engineered to possess a cysteine-constrained 12-residue Cu(2)O binding sequence, designated CN225, that is inserted into a permissive site in TraI. When TraIi1753::CN225 is included in the precursor electrolyte, stable Cu(2)O nanoparticles form, even though the concentrations of [Cu(+)] and [OH(-)] are at 5% of the solubility product (K(sp,Cu2O)). Negative control experiments verify that Cu(2)O formation is controlled by inclusion of the CN225 binding sequence. Transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction reveal a core-shell structure for the nonequilibrium nanoparticles: a 2 nm Cu(2)O core is surrounded by an adsorbed protein shell. Quantitative protein adsorption studies show that the unexpected stability of Cu(2)O is imparted by the nanomolar surface binding affinity of TraIi1753::CN225 for Cu(2)O (K(d) = 1.2 x 10(-)(8) M), which provides favorable interfacial energetics (-45 kJ/mol) for the core-shell configuration. The protein shell retains the DNA-binding traits of TraI, as evidenced by the spontaneous organization of nanoparticles onto circular double-stranded DNA.     

负载于二氧化硅上的小尺寸氧化亚铜物种促进丙烯选择性氧化生成丙烯醛

氧化物负载的含铜材料是丙烯选择性氧化制备丙烯醛的理想催化剂,一直以来都受到人们的广泛关注.然而,对于该催化体系的结构与性能之间的关系仍不是很清楚.因此,我们以碳酸钠为沉淀剂,通过沉积沉淀法将铜负载于高比表面的二氧化硅载体上,从而得到了均匀分散且小尺寸的Cu/SiO2催化剂.另外,采用浸渍法制得了相同负载量的分散不均匀、大尺寸的Cu/SiO2催化剂.丙烯选择性氧化反应活性测试发现,沉积沉淀法制备的催化剂比浸渍法制备的更有利于丙烯醛的生成,表现出了优异的催化性能:在300℃反应时,丙烯的转化率达到25.5%,丙烯醛的选择性达到66.8%,对应的丙烯醛的生成速率高达10.5 mmol·h^-1·gcat.^-1或111.2 mmol·h^-1·gCu^-1,远远超出了浸渍法制备的催化剂性能(1.7 mmol·h^-1·gcat.^-1或17.2mmol·h^-1·gCu^-1)和文献中报道的结果.结合高角度环形暗场扫描透射电子显微镜(HAADF-STEM)和X射线吸收精细结构(XAFS)技术,对沉积沉淀法制备的催化剂进行表征,发现在反应后铜物种的结构发生了明显的变化,由小尺寸的氧化铜(CuO)团簇转变为氧化亚铜(Cu2O)团簇,并且铜物种的尺寸没有明显的增大.为了进一步探索铜物种在预处理(氢气还原)以及催化反应时(丙烯+氧气)的结构变化,对不同方法合成的两种催化剂进行了原位X射线粉末衍射测试,发现不同尺寸的铜物种在还原和反应时都经历了从氧化铜(CuO)变为金属Cu再到Cu2O的结构变化,并且Cu2O在320 min的反应过程中可以稳定存在,说明它是该催化反应的活性物种.另外,通过原位双光束傅里叶变换红外光谱追踪反应时气体分子在催化剂表面的吸脱附状态,发现丙烯可以有效地吸附在小尺寸Cu/SiO2催化剂表面,随着Cu2O的形成,检测到了烯丙基中间体(CH2=CHCH2*)的产生,该物种可以与邻近Cu2O上的一个氧发生反应,从而生成丙烯醛,因此结合N2O滴定实验,我们可认为,高度分散的小尺寸的Cu2O物种是丙烯进行高效选择性氧化反应生成丙烯醛的活性物种.     

Untersuchung der ferromagnetischen Produkte der explosiven reaktionen zwischen Ammoniumeisencyanid und Kupfernitrat

The wet mixtures of ammonium hexacyanoferrate, (NH₄)₄[Fe(CN)₆], and cupric nitrate, Cu(NO₃)₂, react explosively when heated at 220 ?C. Among the solid products studied by chemical analysis, magnetic measurements and X-ray diffraction there are magnetite (Fe₃O₄), iron nitride (Fe₄N), gamma iron oxide (γ-Fe₂O₃), cuprous oxide (Cu₂O), alpha iron oxide (α-Fe₂O₃), cupric oxide (CuO), cuprous ferrite and metallic copper. Furthermore cupric hexacyanoferrate (Cu₂[Fe(CN)₆]) and ferric ferrocyanide (Fe₄[Fe(CN)₆]₃) have been found in weakly ferromagnetic products. The presence of these phases and their quantitative contribution depend upon the proportion of the initial salts and air supply.     

Cu2O/ZnO的形貌可控制备及光催化性能

以CuSO₄和ZnCl₂为原料, 采用温和的液相还原法制备得到Cu₂O/ZnO微米结构高效光催化剂. 研究了不同[Cu²⁺]/[Zn²⁺]比条件下所得Cu₂O/ZnO复合物的形貌和光催化活性. 通过5.5 h的光照, Cu₂O/ZnO光催化剂对甲基橙染料的降解率为(77.5±0.1)%. 将多形貌Cu₂O/ZnO复合物作为阳极, 铂片作为对电极, 中间注入甲基橙溶液, 组装“三明治”结构拟电池, 研究了复合物的光降解机制.     

Synthesis and characterization of active cuprous oxide particles and their catalytic application in 1,2,3‐triazole synthesis via alkyne‐azide cycloaddition reaction in water

Active cuprous oxide materials are synthesized from CuSO₄.5H₂O using sodium stannite as reducing agent in the presence of various stabilizers, viz., cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, sodium dodecyl sulphate, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone. The synthesized cuprous oxide materials are well characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to ascertain their identity, while field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive spectroscopy analysis were used to study their morphology and composition, respectively. We have compared the catalytic prowess of the various cuprous oxide materials in the cycloaddition reaction of alkynes and azides to synthesize 1,4‐disubstituted‐1,2,3‐triazoles. A wide variety of substitutions can nicely be tolerated in our optimized reaction conditions to produce very good to excellent yields of the corresponding triazoles in water at 55 °C. The reactions are carried out in water without any assistance of organic cosolvent or other additives, which renders the catalytic method as economical and environment friendly.     

使用变温原位X射线衍射技术认识氧化铜在氢气和一氧化碳气氛下的物相变化*

实验与理论相结合是化学专业教与学的原则。通过运用原位X射线衍射技术(in-situ XRD)探究氧化铜在氢气和一氧化碳气氛下的还原,结果发现无论在氢气或一氧化碳气氛下,从300 ℃开始,氧化铜逐渐被还原为氧化亚铜和铜单质,且该3种物相同时存在。直至温度升至450~500 ℃时,所有的氧化铜和氧化亚铜全部变为了铜单质。实验结果表明氧化铜的还原并非是一个由CuO → Cu2O → Cu逐步还原的单一过程,理论上可以得到的纯氧化亚铜物相在实验过程中并未得到,对此结果进行了分析。另外,将大型仪器尤其是原位表征技术推广到本科教学中具有重要意义。     

CO和NO在CuO及Cu2O(110)表面吸附选择规律研究

采用离散变分Xα方法分别计算了CO和NO以C（或N）端顶位吸附在CuO（110）及Cu2O（110）表面上的基态势能曲线,结果表明：CO在Cu2O表面上的吸附强,而在CuO表面上的吸附弱;NO则在CuO表面上吸附强,在Cu2O表面上吸附弱．它们的吸附能的大小顺序为：CuO－NO＞Cu2O－CO＞Cu2O－NO＞CuO－CO．对于CuO－NO（或CO）吸附体系,主要是Cu的3d轨道与吸附分子的2π轨道间的相互作用;对于Cu2O－CO（或NO）吸附体系,则主要是吸附质分子的5σ及2π分子轨道与其顶位Cu1的4s及4p轨道和侧位Cu2的3d轨道相互作用．本文通过吸附势能曲线、态密度分析、成键分析及电荷转移量和方向等方面对实验现象做了合理的解释．     

纳米金催化光度法检测食品中的甲醛

采用分光光度法检测以纳米金催化甲醛与菲林试剂反应生成的氧化亚铜微粒在870nm处的吸收值,建立了一种测定食品中甲醛的新方法．研究了纳米金、菲林试剂用量及反应温度、反应时间、共存离子的影响．在最佳实验条件下,甲醛浓度在1．2-600．0μg／mL范围内与吸光值△A线性关系良好,线性回归方程为△A870nm=0．0014C＋0．0627,相关系数为0．9992,检出限为0．45μg／mL．加标回收率为98．0％～100．3％．该法灵敏度高,选择性好,体系干扰少,用于测定腐竹、精制粉丝、红薯粉丝和方便面中甲醛的含量获得满意的结果．     

Low-temperature formation and characterization of Cu2O nanoparticles in the binary gold alloys

Thermal analyses, using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dilatometry, reveal an important anomaly at low temperature for Au-25 wt.% Cu composition after homogenization at 700°C during 2 hours under vacuum followed by heating up to 160°C before water quenching. This anomaly has been already observed and not explained. Surface characterization, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), exhibits a specific topography, consisting of a nanostructured surface. The precipitates of nanostructured particles are homogeneously scattered all over the surface for this 18-carat gold alloy. Moreover, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows that the composition of the observed particles corresponds to cuprous oxide phase (Cu₂O). The formation of such material can be explained by the diffusion of copper atoms from the lattice to the surface at 160°C. Pulsed radio-frequency glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (RF GD-OES) further proves the proposed Cu₂O formation through a diffusion process. The appearance of such cuprous oxide nanoparticles on the Au-Cu alloy surface explains the low-temperature DSC and dilatometry anomaly and affects directly the surface electrical resistance at low temperature. These results might open a large gate for new ideas to investigate in catalytic, electronic, and antimicrobial activities.     

Compositions and structures of copper hexacyanoferrates(II) and (III): experimental results

The preparation, composition and structure of copper hexacyanoferrates have been investigated. Three methods were used: precipitation, local growth in an aqueous solution, and growth in a gel. Four compounds were obtained, either in powdered form or as single crystals: Cu(II)(2)Fe(II)(CN)(6) . xH(2)O, Cu(II)(3)[Fe(III)(CN)(6)](2) . xH(2)O, Na(2)Cu(II)Fe(II)(CN)(6) . 10H(2)O and K(2)Cu(II)Fe(II)(CN)(6). Powders of Cu(II)(2)Fe(II)(CN)(6) . xH(2)O and Cu(II)(3)[Fe(III) (CN)(6)](2) . xH(2)O are easily prepared by precipitation and can also be obtained by local growth. They crystallise generally with cubic symmetry, in space group Fm3m, and are structurally disordered. The mixed copper hexacyanoferrates of general formulae M(1)(2)Cu(II)Fe(II)(CN)(6) or M(I)Cu(II)Fe(III)(CN)(6) (here M(I) is Na, K) were not obtained by precipitation. The appropriate method was local growth for the preparation of powders of K(2)Cu(II)Fe(II)(CN)(6). Single crystals of Na(2)Cu(II)Fe(II)(CN)(6) were obtained by growth in a gel, and their study using single crystal X-ray diffraction revealed a new monoclinic structure.     

Fabrications of hollow nanocubes of Cu(2)O and Cu via reductive self-assembly of CuO nanocrystals

In this work, a template-free synthetic approach for generating single-crystalline hollow nanostructures has been described. Using the small optical band-gap cuprous oxide Cu(2)O as a model case, we demonstrate that, instead of normally known spherical aggregates, primary nanocrystalline particles can first self-aggregate into porous organized solids with a well-defined polyhedral shape according to the oriented attachment mechanism, during which chemical conversion can also be introduced. In contrast to the spherical aggregates, where the nanocrystallites are randomly joined together, the Cu(2)O nanocrystallites in the present case are well organized, maintaining a definite geometric shape and a global crystal symmetry. Due to the presence of intercrystallite space, hollowing and chemical conversion can also be carried out in order to create central space and change the chemical phase of nanostructured polyhedrons. It has been revealed that Ostwald ripening plays a key role in the solid evacuation process. Using this synthetic strategy, we have successfully prepared single-crystal-like Cu(2)O nanocubes and polycrystalline Cu nanocubes with hollow interiors. For the first time, we demonstrate that nanostructured polyhedrons of functional materials with desired interiors can be synthesized in solution via a combination of oriented attachment and Ostwald ripening processes.     

氧化亚铜产品中金属铜的分离与测定

研究了 HCl及 Sn Cl2 浓度和浸取时间对 Cu0 、Cu2 O和 Cu O浸取率的影响 ,建立了分离、测定氧化亚铜产品中金属铜的新方法 ,相对标准偏差 ( RSD) <1 .0 % ( n=6)。样品分析及误差统计结果表明 ,本方法能满足氧化亚铜产品分析的要求。     

A Study of peptide-peptide interaction by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry was used to study peptide-peptide interaction. The interaction was seen when 6-aza-2-thiothymine was used as a matrix (pH 5.4), but was disrupted with a more acidic matrix, alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (pH 2.0). In the present study, we show that dynorphin, an opioid peptide, and five of its fragments that contain two adjacent basic residues (Arg6-Arg7), all interact noncovalently with peptides that contain two to five adjacent acidic residues (Asp or Glu). Two other nonrelated peptides containing two (Arg6-Arg7) or three (Arg1-Lys2-Arg3) adjacent basic amino acid residues were studied and exhibited the same behavior. However, peptides containing adjacent Lys or His did not form noncovalent complexes with acidic peptides. The noncovalent bonding was sufficiently stable that digestion with trypsin only cleaved Arg and Lys residues that were not involved in hydrogen bonding with the acidic residues. In an equimolar mixture of dynorphin, dynorphin fragments (containing the motif RR), and an acidic peptide (minigastrin), the acidic peptide preferentially complexed with dynorphin. If the concentration of minigastrin was increased 10 fold, noncovalent interaction was seen with dynorphin and all its fragments containing the motif RR. In the absence of dynorphin, minigastrin formed noncovalent complexes with all dynorphin fragments. These findings suggest that conformation, equilibrium, and concentration do play a role in the occurrence of peptide-peptide interaction. Observations from this study include: (1) ionic bonds were not disrupted by enzymatic digests, (2) conformation and concentration influenced complex formation, and (3) the complex did not form with fragments of dynorphin or unrelated peptides that did not contain the motifs RR or RKR, nor with a fragment of dynorphin where Arg7 was mutated to a phenylalanine residue. These findings strongly suggest that peptide-peptide interaction does occur, and can be studied by MALDI if near physiologic pH is maintained.     

交联累托石/Cu2O纳米复合材料的制备及可见光催化性能

以醋酸铜为原料, 交联累托石(CN-REC)为载体和模板, 制备了CN-REC /Cu₂O纳米复合材料. 利用X射线衍射(XRD)、透射电镜(TEM)、傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)光谱、紫外-可见漫反射光谱(UV-Vis DRS)等技术对复合材料的形貌、表面结构、层间微结构、光响应性能进行了研究. 结果表明: CN-REC对Cu₂O的形貌具有较好的调控作用, Cu₂O均匀分散负载于CN-REC的层间和片层表面; Cu₂O和CN-REC通过Si―O―Cu键发生相互作用; 复合材料的能带隙变宽、光响应能力增强. 以卤素灯为可见光光源, 活性艳红(X-3B)为目标污染物, 研究了复合材料的可见光催化性能, 结果表明, 光催化反应过程符合L-H动力学模型, 2 h内浓度为160 mg·L^-1的X-3B去除效率可超过80%.     

Encapsulation of cyanometalates by a tris-macrocyclic ligand tricopper(II) complex: syntheses, structural variation, and magnetic exchange coupling pathways

The reaction of [M(CN)(6)](3-) (M = Cr(3+), Mn(3+), Fe(3+), Co(3+)) and [M(CN)(8)](4-/3-) (M = Mo(4+/5+), W(4+/5+)) with the trinuclear copper(II) complex of 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyltris[3-(1,3,5,8,12-pentaazacyclotetradecane)] ([Cu(3)(L)](6+)) leads to partially encapsulated cyanometalates. With hexacyanometalate(III) complexes, [Cu(3)(L)](6+) forms the isostructural host-guest complexes [[[Cu(3)(L)(OH(2))(2)][M(CN)(6)](2)][M(CN)(6)]][M(CN)(6)]30 H(2)O with one bridging, two partially encapsulated, and one isolated [M(CN)(6)](3-) unit. The octacyanometalates of Mo(4+/5+) and W(4+/5+) are encapsulated by two tris-macrocyclic host units. Due to the stability of the +IV oxidation state of Mo and W, only assemblies with [M(CN)(8)](4-) were obtained. The Mo(4+) and W(4+) complexes were crystallized in two different structural forms: [[Cu(3)(L)(OH(2))](2)[Mo(CN)(8)]](NO(3))(8)15 H(2)O with a structural motif that involves isolated spherical [[Cu(3)(L)(OH(2))](2)[M(CN)(8)]](8+) ions and a "string-of-pearls" type of structure [[[Cu(3)(L)](2)[M(CN)(8)]][M(CN)(8)]](NO(3))(4) 20 H(2)O, with [M(CN)(8)](4-) ions that bridge the encapsulated octacyanometalates in a two-dimensional network. The magnetic exchange coupling between the various paramagnetic centers is characterized by temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility and field-dependent magnetization data. Exchange between the CuCu pairs in the [Cu(3)(L)](6+) "ligand" is weakly antiferromagnetic. Ferromagnetic interactions are observed in the cyanometalate assemblies with Cr(3+), exchange coupling of Mn(3+) and Fe(3+) is very small, and the octacoordinate Mo(4+) and W(4+) systems have a closed-shell ground state.     

Solid-state coordination chemistry: influences of (M(terpyridyl))(M = Fe(III), Cu(II), Ni(II)) subunits on molybdenum oxide structures

The hydrothermal reactions of Na2MoO4 x 2H2O and 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine with appropriate salts of Fe(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) yield a variety of mixed metal oxide phases. The Cu(II) system affords the molecular cluster [Cu(terpy)MoO4].3H2O (MOXI-40 x 3H2O), as well as a one-dimensional material [Cu(terpy)Mo2O7](MOXI-41) which is constructed from (Mo4O14)4- clusters linked through (Cu(terpy))2+ units. In constrast, the Zn(II) phase of stoichiometry identical to that of MOXI-41, [Zn(terpy)Mo2O7](MOXI-42), exhibits a one-dimensional structure characterized by a (Mo2O7)n2n- chain decorated with peripheral (Zn(terpy))2+ subunits. The iron species [(Fe(terpy))2Mo4O12](MOXI-43) is also one-dimensional but exhibits [(Fe(terpy))2(MoO4)2]2+ rings linked through (MoO4)2- tetrahedra. A persistent structural motif which appears in MOXI-40, MOXI-41, and MOXI-43 is the [(M(terpy))2(MoO4)2]n cluster with a cyclic )(M2Mo2O4) core. In general, the secondary metal sites M(II, III) are effective bridging groups between molybdate subunits of varying degrees of aggregation. Furthermore, the ligands passivate the bimetallic oxide from spatial extension in two or three dimensions and provide a routine entree into low-dimensional structural types of the molybdenum oxide family of materials.     

NaOH浓度对Cu_2O结构及甲醛乙炔化性能的影响

以CuCl_2·2H_2O为铜源,NaOH为沉淀剂,L-抗坏血酸钠为还原剂,采用液相还原法制备了Cu_2O,并将其应用于甲醛乙炔化反应制1,4-丁炔二醇.借助傅里叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)、拉曼光谱(Raman)、X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和H_2程序升温还原(H2-TPR)等手段研究了NaOH浓度对Cu_2O结构、性质及催化性能的影响.结果表明,调变NaOH浓度改变了Cu2O的结晶度与粒径,从而使Cu_2O表现出不同的炔化性能.低NaOH浓度时,Cu_2O结晶度低,粒径小,易被还原为非活性的金属Cu;高浓度时,Cu_2O结晶度过高,粒径大,难以转化为活性物种炔化亚铜,两者均造成催化剂活性较低.而中等浓度的NaOH使Cu_2O具有了适宜的结晶度与粒径大小,Cu_2O可高效转化为炔化亚铜活性物种,表现出最优的炔化性能.     

乙腈、苯基氰在Cu(111)与Pd(100)表面上的吸附与反应

用高分辨电子能量损失谱(HREELS~*)对CH_3CN(乙腈)及C_6H_5CN(苯基氰)在清洁与氧覆盖的Cu(111)及Pd(100)表面上的吸附及其反应进行了研究。从198 K时CH_3CN吸附在Cu(111)及Pd(100)表面上的高分辨电子能量损失谱(HREELS)中观察到v(C≡N)几乎消失, 并在195 meV处出现一个较弱的v(C=N)谱带, 表明CH_3CN在吸附过程中C≡N再杂化为C=N,C,N原子分别与金属表面原子键合并C=N平行于表面。从198 K时C_6H_5CN在Pd(100)及Cu(111)上的HREELS表明C_6H_5CN的环平面与CN平行于金属表面。在185K时C_6H_5CN在氧覆盖的Pd(100)表面上的HREELS与其在清洁表面上的相似。并未观察到覆盖氧增强了C_6H_5CN在Pd(100)上的吸附及其它效应。C_6H_5CN吸附在氧覆盖的Cu(111)表面上产生了C_6H_5CNO的特征谱带。     

Copper(I) coordination chemistry of (pyridylmethyl)amide ligands

Copper(I) chloro complexes were synthesized with a family of ligands, HL(R) [HL(R) = N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide, R = null; 2-phenyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide, R = Ph; 2,2-dimethyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)propionamide, R = Me3; 2,2,2-triphenyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide, R = Ph3)]. Five complexes were synthesized from the respective ligand and cuprous chloride: [Cu(HL)Cl]n (1), [Cu2(HL)4Cl2] (2), [Cu2(HL(Ph))2(CH3CN)2Cl2] (3), [Cu2(HL(Ph)3)2Cl2] (4), and [Cu(HL(Me)3)2Cl] (5). X-ray crystal structures reveal that for all complexes the ligands coordinate to the Cu in a monodentate fashion, and inter- or intramolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions formed between the amide NH group and either amide C=O or chloro groups stabilize these complexes in the solid state and strongly influence the structures formed. Complexes 1-5 display a range of structural motifs, depending on the size of the ligand substituent groups, hydrogen bonding, and the stoichiometry of the starting materials, including a one-dimensional coordination polymer chain (1) and binuclear (2-4) or mononuclear (5) structures.     

Formation of colloidal CuO nanocrystallites and their spherical aggregation and reductive transformation to hollow Cu2O nanospheres

In this work, we demonstrate that cuprous oxide Cu(2)O nanospheres with hollow interiors can be fabricated from a reductive conversion of aggregated CuO nanocrystallites without using templates. A detailed process mechanism has been revealed: (i) formation of CuO nanocrystallites; (ii) spherical aggregation of primary CuO crystallites; (iii) reductive conversion of CuO to Cu(2)O; and (iv) crystal aging and hollowing of Cu(2)O nanospheres. In this template-free process, Ostwald ripening is operative in (iv) for controlling crystallite size in shell structures and thus for precisely tuning the optical band gap energy (E(g)) of resultant semiconductor nanostructures. For the first time, a wealth of colorful Cu(2)O hollow nanospheres (outer diameters in 100-200 nm), with variable E(g) in the range of 2.405-2.170 eV, has been fabricated via this novel chemical route. Considering their unique hollow structure and facile tuning in band gap energy, the prepared Cu(2)O hollow spheres can be potentially useful for harvesting solar energy in the visible range. Possibility of fabrication of Cu-Cu(2)O nanocomposites has also been discussed.