From ascorbic acid to oxalate: Hydrothermal synthesis of copper oxalate microspheres and conversion to oxide

•Hydrothermal synthesis of oxalates from ascorbic acid without oxalate acid or soluble oxalate salts for the first time. The similar phenomenon was only reported in the biological process.•Copper oxalate microspheres and porous copper oxide microspheres of similar size are synthesized in gram scale.•Obtained products are confirmed with powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectra (IR), thermal analysis (TA), SEM and TEM to determine the conclusion.

Copper oxalate microspheres of about 10 μm in size are obtained via a hydrothermal route. Instead of oxalic acid or soluble oxalate salts, ascorbic acid is used with copper nitrate in the reaction. Obtained copper oxalate microspheres are characterized by several techniques. Further heating copper oxalate microspheres yields porous copper oxide microspheres of similar size.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide