Preparation of Cu2O nanoparticles in cupric chloride solutions with a simple mechanochemical approach

The cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles with diameter of 50–150 nm are prepared by high-energy ball milling in the various CuCl2 solutions with different [Cl−] concentration. The as-synthesized products are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Finally, the effects of [Cl−] concentrations on the formation of cuprous oxide and reaction mechanism are discussed.