Chuncai Kong

Highly symmetric polyhedral Cu2O crystals with controllable-index planes

Novel highly symmetric multi-faceted polyhedral Cu2O crystals enclosed by controllable high-index facets and different low-index facets have been synthesized via a template-free complex-precursor solution route. The formation and evolution of these polyhedral shapes can be attributed to the aggregation and ripening mechanism with face-selective adsorption. The appearance of these novel polyhedral architectures further enriches the current morphologies of Cu2O crystals, and might become useful for the fundamental study of crystals design.

Templating synthesis of hollow CuO polyhedron and its application for nonenzymatic glucose detection

In this report, a novel type of a hollow CuO polyhedron-modified electrode for sensitive nonenzymatic glucose detection has been fabricated by a templating approach. The morphologies and structures were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectrum and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These results show that the as-prepared hollow CuO consists of numerous CuO nanoplates. The electrochemical performance for glucose detection was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The hollow CuO polyhedron-modified electrode exhibits a high sensitivity of 1112 μA mM−1 cm−2 with a detection limit of 0.33 μM (S/N = 3) at +0.55 V, and the linear range is up to 4 mM. Moreover, the hollow CuO polyhedron-modified electrode is highly resistant to the interference from interfering species such as sodium chloride (NaCl), ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). The hollow CuO polyhedron-modified electrode exhibits high sensitivity, low detection limit, good stability and fast response towards the oxidation of glucose; thus, it may be a promising nonenzymatic glucose sensor.

Facet-selective growth of Cu–Cu2O heterogeneous architectures

We have demonstrated a facile protocol for the synthesis of facet-selective growth of low-cost metal Cu nanoparticles on {111} facets of polyhedral 26-facet Cu2O architectures. The novel Cu–Cu2O heterogeneous architectures show better adsorption and photodegradation of methyl orange than those of the original Cu2O architectures.

Nanoparticle-aggregated CuO nanoellipsoids for high-performance non-enzymatic glucose detection

We have demonstrated a facile anion-assisted strategy for the synthesis of nanoparticle-aggregated CuO nanoellipsoids. Structural and morphological evolutions were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The nanoparticle-aggregated CuO nanoellipsoids serve as a promising electrode material for a non-enzymatic glucose biosensor which shows high sensitivity, good reproducibility, a fast amperometric response and good selectivity. The study is of great importance in the bottom-up assembly of tunable ordered architectures, and offers a chance to understand the formation mechanism and fundamental significance of an anion-assisted strategy for the synthesis of metal oxides. Significantly, it is believed that the anion-assisted synthetic approach reported here could provide a facile way to design more novel metal oxide architectures with well-defined shapes.

Etching-limited branching growth of cuprous oxide during ethanol-assisted solution synthesis

An etching-limited branching growth mechanism has been elucidated during ethanol-assisted solution synthesis of octahedral Cu2O crystals, which is different from the conventional diffusion-limited aggregate and recent overpotential-limited branching mechanism. It provides an innovative approach for revealing the shape evolution from habit formation (octahedron) to branching growth (hexapod-like architecture) via adjusting the competition between preferential growth and selective oxidative etching, and displays a constructive model system for fundamental research of crystal growth and design.

Unique polyhedral 26-facet CuS hollow architectures decorated with nanotwinned, mesostructural and single crystalline shells

Novel polyhedral 26-facet CuS microcages decorated with amazingly unique crystalline structures as building blocks were successfully synthesized via a facile sacrificial Cu2O templates solution route. Each of the polyhedral 26-facet CuS microcages has a composition of three pairs of square mesostructural shells, four pairs of nanotwinned triangular shells, and six pairs of rectangular single crystalline shells. Structural and morphological evolutions were investigated by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The selective synthesis of the three different types of building blocks can be attributed to the intrinsic difference of the crystallographic structures of {110}, {100} and {111} facets of Cu2O crystals, which is of great significance in the “bottom-up” assembly of unusual hollow ordering superstructures.

Copper sulfide cages wholly exposed with nanotwinned building blocks

We have demonstrated a facile protocol for the synthesis of CuS cages wholly exposed with nanotwinned building blocks via a sacrificial Cu2O template solution route. The as-prepared CuS cages exhibit higher photocatalytic activity for enhancing degradation of methylene blue.

Selective-etching growth of urchin-like Cu2O architectures

We have demonstrated a facile protocol to artificially design and synthesize uniform and monodisperse urchin-like Cu2O architectures via a selective-etching growth route. The urchin-like Cu2O architectures exhibit higher photocatalytic activity for enhancing degradation of methyl orange.

Nanoparticle-aggregated paddy-like copper dendritic nanostructures

In this paper, an HCuCl2 solution has been discovered for high-yield fabrication of paddy-like copper dendritic nanostructuresvia electroless deposition route. The morphology of the copper dendritic nanostructure is obviously better than that synthesized in CuCl2 aqueous solution under otherwise the same experimental conditions. The appearance of these novel paddy-like copper nanodendrites can be attributed to diffusion-limited aggregation and oriented attachment mechanism. The dendritic morphology can be tailored via physical field, such as thermal field and magnetic field. Significantly, the HCuCl2 solution reported in this work might provide a new way for the shape-controlled synthesis of metal copper or copper based alloy.

Nanoparticle-aggregated hollow copper microcages and their surface-enhanced Raman scattering activity

We have demonstrated a facile Cu2O-templated approach for the synthesis of nanoparticle-aggregated hollow copper microcages (HCMC). As substrates, these HCMC exhibit surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity for rhodamine 6G (R6G) and 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA).