Special fractal growth of dendrite copper using a hydrothermal method

Special fractal dendrite Cu nanostructures have been synthesized through a simple hydrothermal method, and the effects of the volume ratio between glycerol and water and the concentration of H3PO3 on the morphologies of dendrite Cu have been studied in detail. The Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been used to characterize these Cu products. The results indicate that rhombic diamond and different morphologies of fractal dendrite were prepared because of the accumulation of Cu nuclei based on the diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) and the nucleation-limited aggregation (NLA) model. Fortunately, symmetrical leaf-like dendrite Cu nanostructures different from Cu dendrites reported before have been obtained. Additionally, an explanation for the growth of fractal dendrite Cu has been discussed carefully.

Uniform dendritic Cu are grown through controlling Vglycerol/water in range of 0.6–1.2 and the concentration of H3PO3 in range of 0.06–0.3 M. The rhombic cluster Cu are obtained by decreasing the amount of glycerol.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Volume ratio of glycerol/water and concentration of H3PO3 were varied, respectively.
► Morphologies of dendritic Cu have some changes.
► Leaf-like and rhombic cluster Cu were obtained.
► The concentration changes affect the aggregation of Cu crystallites.
► The aggregation and crystallographic orientation cause leaf-like Cu nanostructures.