Controllable synthesis of Cu2O petalody octahedral microcrystals and multi-patterned evolution

► The petalody octahedral pattern of Cu2O is firstly found. ► Multi-patterned Cu2O are obtained accompanying with Cu or urchin-like CuO. ► Growth mechanism for multi-patterned Cu2O is demonstrated. ► The evolution from Cu to Cu2O then to CuO is discussed. ► Controllable Cu2O particles without using templates or surfactants are reported.