Green synthesis of flower-like CuI microstructures composed of trigonal nanostructures using pomegranate juice

In this work, pomegranate juice was used not only as reductant, but also as capping agent for self-assembly of trigonal nanostructures to form flower-like CuI microstructures. Pomegranate juice was applied as reductant because of the presence of anthocyanin molecules in its ingredients. Besides pomegranate juice, Cu(NO3)2.3H2O and LiI were used as copper and iodide sources for the preparation of CuI nanostructures via a simple precipitation method at ambient conditions. By using different amounts of pomegranate juice, various morphologies of CuI have been obtained. It was found that uniform flower-like CuI microstructures composed of trigonal nanostructures have been successfully produced using 8 mL of pomegranate juice.

► Flower-like CuI nanostructures were produced via a green and simple method.
► Pomegranate juice was used as antioxidant and capping agent.
► Various morphologies of CuI were obtained by changing the amount of the capping agent.
► Pure cubic phased CuI nanostructures have been produced by this method.