One-step synthesis of Cu2S nanostructures with two different morphologies on either side of a copper substrate

Cu2S nanosheets and hexagonal nanoplates have been synthesized, respectively on either side of a copper substrate via a facile one-step hydrothermal process using ethylenediamine (en) and distilled water as co-solvent and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and UV–vis spectra were used to characterize the obtained products. A reasonable formation mechanism of Cu2S nanostructures was proposed based on the experimental results.