One-step synthesis of leaf-like, Fe2O3-decorated Cu structures templated by graft copolymer

Leaf-like iron oxide (Fe2O3)-decorated copper (Cu) structures were prepared by a facile, one-step templating method. An amphiphilic graft copolymer consisting of a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) backbone and poly(oxyethylene methacrylate) (POEM) side chains (PVC-g-POEM) synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was used as a structure-directing agent. Cu nanoparticles dispersed in the graft copolymer solution were combined with iron (III) ethoxide, followed by an in situ sol-gel reaction and calcination at 450 °C to generate the Fe2O3/Cu structures. The morphology and elemental composition were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).