Versatile synthesis of rectangular shaped nanobat-like CuO nanostructures by hydrothermal method; structural properties and growth mechanism

This paper describes a simple and versatile method for growing highly anisotropic rectangular shaped nanobat-like CuO nanostructures by simple, low temperature and cost effective hydrothermal method. Field emission scanning electron microscopy illustrated that these CuO nanostructures have diameter of similar to 70 nm, thickness of similar to 8 nm and length of similar to 174 nm. Structural analysis reveals that the CuO nanostructures have a high crystal quality with monoclinic crystal structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies demonstrate that the sample is composed of CuO. The Raman study also indicates the single phase property and high crystallinity of as-grown CuO nanostructures. The plausible growth mechanism for the formation of nanobat-like CuO structure is proposed. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.