Thermal Decomposition of Copper Acetate at Various Temperature andTime to form Copper Oxide/Copper Nanoparticles
S.B. Sibokoza, Makwena J. Moloto, Fanyana M. Mtunzi, Nosipho Moloto
Abstract
In the present study, the copper oxide and copper nanoparticles were prepared by thermal decomposition of solid phase copper acetate at various time (1-3 h) and temperature (200-500 ºC). The method is simple, less expensive, avoid toxic solvent as well as avoid use of passivating agents. The FT-IR spectrum of the copper acetate monohydrate (calcined) shows the major changes in absorption peaks associated with methyl, carbon-oxygen double bond, carbon-oxygen single bond and copper-oxygen bond functional groups. Thermogravimetry analysis shows that the copper acetate monohydrate decomposes at about 250 ºC to form copper. The TEM images show a combination of shapes, which includes icosahedrons, truncated cubes and nano-whiskers made from sphere with diameter of 7.43-0.83 nm.