Synthesis of coppers sulfite hexapods by simple hydrothermal route

In this work, the obtaining of Cu7.2S4 hexapods by a hydrothermal process of two stages is reported. First, hexapods of Cu2O were obtained using copper chloride, and then in the second stage, sodium sulfite was used at different weight ratios in relation with Cu2O for the transformation into Cu7.2S4. The XRD, SEM, Raman, and XPS studies show that at 1:1 wt-ratio the conversion is not completely achieved and the presence of the two phases in the hexapod is detected. By increasing the weight-ratio to 1:2, Cu7.2S4 hexapods with smooth surface were totally transformed into Cu7.2S4 ones with modified surface completely covered by nanosheets.