Preparation and characterization of zeolite framework stabilized cuprous oxide nanoparticles

Zeolite framework stabilized copper(I) oxide nanoparticles (4.8 ± 2.6 nm) were prepared for the first time by using a four step procedure: the ion exchange of Cu2+ ions with the extra framework Na+ ions in Zeolite-Y, the reduction of the Cu2+ ions within the cavities of zeolite with sodium borohydride in aqueous solution, the dehydration of Zeolite-Y with the copper(0) nanoclusters, and the oxidation of intrazeolite copper(0) nanoclusters by O2 at room temperature. Zeolite stabilized copper(I) oxide nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized by ICP-OES, XRD, HR-TEM, Raman, XPS, UV–vis spectroscopy and N2 adsorption–desorption technique.