Synthesis of CuO nanoparticles using copper nitrate hydrate, urea and sucrose by solution combustion synthesis

Abstract

CuO nanoparticles were prepared by using solution combustion synthesis with copper nitrate as an oxidizer, urea as the fuel, and sucrose as the additive fuel. Optimum fuel-to-oxidizer ratio(Φ_e) and temperature for the synthesis of CuO nanoparticle was determined. The synthesized CuO oxides were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning probe microscopy(SPM) and Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) techniques. The phase, grain size, morphology, particle size and specific surface area of CuO oxide nanoparticles were found to be dependent on the fuel to oxidizer ratio(Φ_e) and temperature. The optimum synthesis conditions are Φ_e=0.2 and T=400°C, and the properties of the CuO nanoparticles obtained under this condition are 104nm in average particle size, 70.15 m²/g in BET specific surface area, and present in a uniformly aggregated state.