Synthesis of CuS nanoribbons templated by hydrogel

Copper sulfides were synthesized by using the low-molecular-mass hydrogel nanofibers self-assembled from a L-glutamic acid derivative. The as-prepared copper sulfides showed a nanoribbon structure with diameter of 30–70 nm and lengths of 1–10 μm. The investigation of FT-IR absorption spectra and XRD pattern for the neat hydrogel and composite gel suggested that H-bonding was the main driving force to help the formation of ordered nanofibers of the hydrogel and the composite gel. The resulted mineralization indicated that the inorganic ions (Cu2+) were firstly coordinated to the carboxylate anions (COO−). With the penetration of H2S, the preformed CuS nanoparticles on the surface of the fibers acted as the growing points for the continuous growth.