Microwave-assisted synthesis of cupric oxide nanosheets and nanowhiskers

Cupric oxide (CuO) nanosheets and nanowhiskers have been successfully synthesized by a simple microwave-assisted solution approach using CuCl2 and NaOH. The ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF4]) has a significant influence on the morphology of CuO. The products were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimetric analysis (DSC).