Cu2S nanostructures prepared by Cu-cysteine precursor templated route

A facile Cu-cysteine precursor templated route for the synthesis of Cu2S nanowires, dendritic-like and flowerlike nanostructures is reported. The Cu-cysteine precursors are prepared through the reaction between Cu2+, L-cysteine and ethanolamine at room temperature, and the morphologies of Cu-cysteine precursors can be controlled by adjusting the molar ratio of L-cysteine to Cu2+. The Cu-cysteine precursors are used as both templates and source materials for the subsequent preparation of polycrystalline Cu2S nanostructures by thermal treatment, and the morphologies of the precursors can be well preserved after the thermal transformation to Cu2S nanostructures. The samples are characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.