Ionic liquid assisted synthesis of flowerlike Cu2O micro-nanocrystals

Novel flowerlike Cu₂O micro-nanocrystals were prepared by a greener reductive reaction of cupric acetate monohydrate with ethylene glycol in aqueous solutions of [C₈mim]X (X = Cl^?, Br^?, BF₄ ^?, PF₆ ^?) and [C _n mim][BF₄] (n = 4, 6, 8). The obtained microstructures of Cu₂O were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR). The effects of cations, anions and concentration of the ionic liquids on the morphology of Cu₂O were examined in some details. The results suggest that the formation of flowerlike Cu₂O was governed by a [C₈mim][BF₄] controlled reductive reaction mechanism. As one of their applications, the Cu₂O nanoparticles were used for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution, and high photocatalytic activity was observed.