Preparation and characterization of CuO nanocrystals

Monoclinic CuO nanoparticles were prepared by using a onestep solid state r eaction method under ambient conditions. The CuO particles with an average size of 12 nm were pressed into pellets under high pressure. They were stud ied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), tra nsmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy. The CuO grains in pellets grow with time at room temperature, The gradual increase in the grain size with time is clearly reflected in their Raman spectra and the X RD results. The correlation between the Raman spectra and the crystal dimen sion is discussed. (C) 1999 Academic Press.