One-dimensional CuS microstructures prepared by a PVP-assisted microwave hydrothermal method

One-dimensional (1D) CuS microstructures of assembled chains and rods have been prepared using a facile polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) assisted microwave hydrothermal (MH) method. The crystallites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and UV–vis optical absorption spectroscopy. The crystal growth and morphology evolution process have been investigated through time-dependent experiments, and the assembling of sphere into chain-like structure and the further transformation into rod-like morphology are observed. A possible formation mechanism of the as-obtained 1D structure was proposed after the investigation of the effects of the concentration of PVP and the solvent on the final products in detail. The UV–vis spectra of the spherical and rod-like CuS crystallites show a strong absorption in the visible spectrum between 500 nm and 800 nm, while the rod-like structure exhibits a distinct red shift compared to the spheres.