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Copper hydride, oxygen-free copper, non-classical crystallization
pathway
Abstract:
Copper particles with desert rose morphology and high surface area were
obtained via decomposition of a copper hydride which particles possesses a similar
shape. Copper hydride was synthesized by the reaction between copper sulphate and
hypophosphorous acid at 50ºC. The different reaction steps of the copper hydride
formation were monitored by two time-dependent techniques: in situ photon cross
correlation spectroscopy (PCCS) and ex situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). At
the initial stage of the reaction, emulsion droplets of a particular size were formed,
followed by the growth and agglomeration of copper hydride crystallites in the
confinement of these droplets. The final structure consists of rose-like shaped particles
with an average size of about 217 ± 53 nm arranged into chains. The surface area of
these particles was estimated to be 41 8 m2/g. The nucleation and growth of the copper
hydride occur via non-classical crystallization pathway.
