Time-dependent facile synthesis of CuO hedgehog-like nanostructures and their catalytic activity

Abstract In this work, CuO hedgehog-like nanostructures were synthesized by a chemical reduction simple method using copper chloride (CuCl 2 ) as a precursor salt and sodium borohydride as a reduced agent. The CuO hedgehog-like structures were integrated as a function of time in aqueous solution, varying the molar concentration of the CuCl 2 . The obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis). The catalytic activity of the nanostructures was evaluated in the degradation of organic dyes. XRD analysis indicates that the CuO hedgehog-like particles have a monoclinic structure. SEM and TEM studies reveal particles composed of numerous one-dimensional nano-spikes growing from a core with a range particle size from 1 to 3 μm. The UV–vis absorption spectrum of the obtained solids exhibits two peaks characteristic of CuO. Besides, the UV–vis spectra demonstrate CuO nanostructures with excellent degradation efficiencies of organic dyes.