Synthesis and characterization of metallic copper nanoparticles via thermal decomposition

Copper oxalate was used as a precursor to prepare metallic copper nanoparticles by thermal decomposition. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy. XRD analysis revealed broad pattern for fcc crystal structure of copper metal. The particle size by use Of Debye-Scherrer's equation was calculated to be about 40 nm. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.