Template-free synthesis of mesoporous single-crystal CuO particles with dumbbell-shaped morphology

• Dumbbell-shaped CuO was synthesized by a rapid hydrothermal process in the absence of templating agents.
• BET surface area and pore volume of the samples were 67.4 m2g-1 and 0.39 cm3g-1, respectively.
• TEM study confirmed the single-crystalline nature of CuO micro-rods in dumbbell-shaped structure.

Dumbbell-shaped CuO particles were synthesized by a rapid hydrothermal process at 150 °C/2 h via template-free route. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) showed the crystallization of Cu2(OH)2CO3 in the as-prepared samples, and monoclinic CuO phase for 300 °C-treated samples. The BET surface area, total pore volume and average pore diameter of the samples were found to be 67.4 m2 g−1, 0.39 cm3 g−1, and 23 nm, respectively. Microstructural analysis indicated dumbbell-shaped morphology comprising of self-assembled microrod-like particles (length 2–10 μm, dia 200–300 nm). Single-crystalline nature of the particles was confirmed by selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images. A tentative formation mechanism was illustrated.

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