Comparison of the Effects of Electrodes Orientation in the Synthesis of Cupric Oxide Nanoparticles for an Electrochemical Method

Abstract

Cupric oxide nanoparticles were synthesized with different morphologies by an electrochemical route, modifying the orientation of the electrodes. Cuprous oxide nanoparticles get to be present. The process consisted in the use of a two-electrode cell powered by one DC voltage source without additional controls. The experiments were carried out at 1 V at 25°C under strong stirring. A copper sheet of 99.98% purity was used as the sacrificial anode, stainless steel sheet as the cathode, and aqueous sodium nitrate as the electrolyte. Structural characterization was done by X-ray diffraction, and the morphology was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Using the vertical configuration cupric oxide nanosheets were obtained, while cupric-cuprous oxide shuttle-like nanoparticles were obtained using the horizontal configuration.