Controlled synthesis of copper sulfide 3D nanoarchitectures through a facile hydrothermal route

CuS three-dimensional nanoarchitectures have been successfully prepared in the presence of surfactant Poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) by hydrothermally treating the solution of CuSO4·5H2O and CS2 at 140 °C for 18 h. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer were used to characterize the CuS. The assembled three-dimensional nanoarchitecture, with a diameter of about 100 nm, was composed of hexagonal CuS nanoplates with a thickness of 20 nm. The influences of synthetic parameters, such as Poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone), reaction temperature and reaction time, on the morphologies of the products have been investigated. The possible mechanism of forming three-dimensional flower-like nanoarchitecture was discussed.