Synthesis of CuO Nanorods, Reduction of CuO into Cu Nanorods, and Diffuse Reflectance Measurements of CuO and Cu Nanomaterials in the Near Infrared Region

CuO nanorods were synthesized by hydrothermal methods with three different chemical combinations: (i) copper nitrate, lactic acid, and sodium hydroxide; (ii) copper sulfate, sodium lactate, and sodium hydroxide; and (iii) copper nitrate and sodium hydroxide. Physical parameters, concentration, temperature, and aging time, greatly affected the size and morphology of the nanorods; CuO nanoparticles were also prepared. These nanorods and nanoparticles were reduced to metallic copper at elevated temperature by 4% H-2 diluted in helium. The morphology of CuO nanomaterials (nanorods and nanoparticles) was preserved after reduction. These CuO and Cu nanorods and nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, SEM-EDS, and BET measurements. The CuO and Cu nanomaterials were employed for near-infrared (NIR) diffuse reflectance. Among these materials, CuO nanorods were to be found the best NIR diffuse reflectors, indicating potential application as NIR obscurants.