Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Synthesis of Ag@Cu2O core-shell metal-semiconductor nanoparticles and conversion to Ag@Cu core-shell bimetallic nanoparticles

  • Article
  • Published:
Science China Technological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ag@Cu2O core-shell metal-semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by using solution phase strategy. It was found that Ag@Cu2O core-shell NPs were easily converted to Ag@Cu bimetallic core-shell NPs with the help of surfactant PVP and excessive reducer ascorbic acid in air at room temperature, which is a unique phenomenon. Varying volumes of Ag colloidal solutions were added into the reaction mixtures containing fixed initial concentrations of Cu2+ and PVP, Ag@Cu2O and Ag@Cu core-shell NPs with fixed core size but varying outer shell thicknesses could be obtained. The composites, structures, morphologies and extinction properties of Ag@Cu2O and Ag@Cu core-shell NPs were systematically characterized by XRD, TEM and extinction spectra. Both of these NPs show wide tunable optical properties. The extinction peaks could be shifted from 421 nm to 700 nm. FTIR results reveal that Cu+ ions on the surface of Cu2O nanocrystalline coordinate with N and O atoms in PVP and further are reduced to metallic Cu by excessive ascorbic acid and then form a nucleation site on the surface of Cu2O nanocrystalline. PVP binds onto a different site to proceed with the reduction until all the Cu sources in Cu2O NPs are completely assumed. And the shell of Cu2O is converted to Cu shell. The synthesis approach in this paper is simple and also a promising reference for synthesizing other core-shell NPs. Ag@Cu2O NPs can be easily converted to Ag@Cu NPs in air at room temperature, which is promising to be used in electronic devices.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wang W C, Lyu L M, Huang M H. Investigation of the effects of polyhedral gold nanocrystal morphology and facets on the formation of Au-Cu2O core-shell heterostructures. Chem Mater, 2011, 23: 2677–2684

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Kuo C H, Hua T E, Huang M H. Au nanocrystal-directed growth of Au-Cu2O core-shell heterostructures with precise morphological control. J Am Chem Soc, 2009, 131: 17871–17878

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Liu D Y, Ding S Y, Lin H X, et al. Distinctive enhanced and tunable plasmon resonant absorption from controllable Au@Cu2O nanoparticles: experimental and theoretical modeling. J Phys C, 2012, 116: 4477–4483

    Google Scholar 

  4. Li J T, Cushing S K, Bright J, et al. Ag@Cu2O core-shell nanoparticles as visible-light plasmonic photocatalysts. ACS Catal, 2013, 3: 47–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Yec C C, Zeng H C. Synthetic architecture of multiple core-shell and yolk-shell structures of (Cu2O@)n Cu2O (n=1–4) with centricity and eccentricity. Chem Mater, 2012, 24: 1917–1929

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Kou J H, Saha A, Bennett-Stamper C, et al. Inside-out core-shell architecture: Controllable fabrication of Cu2O@Cu with high activity for the Sonogashira coupling reaction. Chem Commun, 2012, 48: 5862–5864

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Li S K, Huang F Z, Wang Y, et al. Magnetic Fe3O4@C@Cu2O composites with bean-like core/shell nanostructures: Synthesis, properties and application in recyclable photocatalytic degradation of dye pollutants. J Mater Chem, 2011, 21: 7459–7466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Zhang L, Blom D A, Wang H. Au-Cu2O core-shell nanoparticles: A hybrid metal-semiconductor heteronanostructure with geometrically tunable optical properties. Chem Mater, 2011, 23: 4587–4598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Zhang L, Jing H, Boisvert G, et al. Geometry control and optical tunability of metal-cuprous oxide core-shell nanoparticles. ACS Nano, 2012, 6: 3514–3527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Jing H, Large N, Zhang Q F, et al. Epitaxial growth of Cu2O on Ag allows for fine control over particle geometries and optical properties of Ag-Cu2O core-shell nanoparticles. J Phys Chem C, 2014, 118: 19948–19963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Xiong J Y, Li Z, Chen J, et al. Facile synthesis of highly efficient one-dimensional plasmonic photocatalysts through Ag@Cu2O coreshell heteronanowires. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2014, 6: 15716–15725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kubota S, Morioka T, Takesue M, et al. Continuous supercritical hydrothermal synthesis of dispersible zero-valent copper nanoparticles for ink application in printed electronics. J Supercrit Fluid, 2014, 8: 33–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Jang S, Seo Y, Choi J, et al. Sintering of inkjet printed copper nanoparticles for flexible electronics. Scripta Mater, 2010, 62: 258–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Yand Q, Liang S H, Wang J, et al. Morphologicals and corrosion resistances of electroless Ni-P coated nanoporous coppers. Sci China Tech Sci, 2013, 56: 1147–1150

    Google Scholar 

  15. Zhao X H, Fuji M, Shirai T, et al. Electrocatalytic evolution of oxygen on NiCu particles modifying conductive alumina/nano-carbon network composite electrode. Sci China Tech Sci, 2012, 55: 3388–3394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Lee W R, Lim Y S, Kim S, et al. Crystal-to-crystal conversion of Cu2O nanoparticles to Cu crystals and applications in printed electronics. J Mater Chem, 2011, 21: 6928–6933

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Liu D Q, Yang Z B, Wang P, et al. Preparation of 3D nanoporous copper-supported cuprous oxide for high-performance lithium ion battery anodes. Nanoscale, 2013, 5: 1917–1921

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Paolella A, Brescia R, Prato M, et al. Colloidal synthesis of cuprite (Cu2O) octahedral nanocrystals and their electrochemical lithiation. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2013, 5: 2745–2751

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Chen L C. Review of preparation and optoelectronic characteristics of Cu2O-based solar cells with nanostructure. Mat Sci Semicon Proc, 2013, 16: 1172–1185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. McShane C M, Choi K S. Junction studies on electrochemically fabricated p-n Cu2O homojunction solar cells for efficiency enhancement. Phys Chem Chem Phys, 2012,14: 6112–6118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Wang Z H, Zhao S P, Zhu A, et al. Photocatalytic synthesis of M/Cu2O (M=Ag, Au) heterogeneous nanocrystals and their photocatalytic properties. Cryst Eng Comm, 2011, 13: 2262–2267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Jiang T F, Xie T F, Chen L P, et al. Carrier concentration-dependent electron transfer in Cu2O/ZnO nanorod arrays and their photocatalytic performance. Nanoscale, 2013, 5: 2938–2944

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Jana D, De G. Controlled and stepwise generation of Cu2O, Cu2O@Cu and Cu nanoparticles inside the transparent alumina films and their catalytic activity. RSC Adv, 2012, 2: 9606–9613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Palnichenko A V, Sidorov N S, Shakhrai D V, et al. Superconductivity of Cu/CuOx interface formed by shock-wave pressure. Physica C: Supercon, 2014, 498: 54–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Singha R K. How the substitution of Zn for Cu destroys superconductivity in YBCO system? J Alloy Compd, 2010, 495: 1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Karamat S, Rawat R S, Tan T L, et al. Exciting dilute magnetic semiconductor: Copper-doped ZnO. J Supercon Nov Magn, 2013, 26: 187–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Li B J, Cao H Q, Yin G, et al. Cu2O@reduced graphene oxide composite for removal of contaminants from water and supercapacitors. J Mater Chem, 2011, 21: 10645–10648

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Hsu Y K, Yu C H, Chen Y C, et al. Hierarchical Cu2O photocathodes with nano/microspheres for solar hydrogen generation. RSC Adv, 2012, 2: 12455–12459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Meng F N, Di X P, Dong H W, et al. Ppb H2S gas sensing characteristics of Cu2O/CuO sub-microspheres at low-temperature. Sens Actuat B: Chem, 2013, 182:197–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Andal V, Buvaneswari G. Preparation of Cu2O nano-colloid and its application as selective colorimetric sensor for Ag+ ion. Sens Actuat B, 2011, 155: 653–658

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Zhuiykov S, Kats E, Marney D, et al. Improved antifouling resistance of electrochemical water quality sensors based on Cu2O-doped RuO2 sensing electrode. Prog Org Coat, 2011, 70: 67–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Gao Z Y, Liu J L, Chang J L, et al. Mesocrystalline Cu2O hollow nanocubes: synthesis and application in non-enzymatic amperometric detection of hydrogen peroxide and glucose. Cryst Eng Comm, 2012, 14: 6639–6646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Sui Y M, Fu W Y, Yang H B, et al. Low temperature synthesis of Cu2O crystals: Shape evolution and growth mechanism. Cryst Growth Des, 2010, 10: 99–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Wang D B, Mo M S, Yu D B, et al. Large-scale growth and shape evolution of Cu2O cubes. Cryst Growth Des, 2003, 3: 717–720

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Paolella A, Brescia R, Prato M, et al. Colloidal synthesis of cuprite (Cu2O) octahedral nanocrystals and their electrochemical lithiation. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2013, 5: 2745–2751

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Yang A L, Wang Y J, Li S P, et al. Stepwise synthesis of cuprous oxide nanoparticles with adjustable structures and growth model. Sci China Tech Sci, 2014, 57: 2287–2294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Pang H, Gao F, Lu Q Y. Glycine-assisted double-solvothermal approach for various cuprous oxide structures with good catalytic activities. Cryst Eng Comm, 2010, 12: 406–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Zhu H T, Wang J X, Xu G Y. Fast synthesis of Cu2O hollow microspheres and their application in DNA biosensor of hepatitis B virus. Cryst Growth Des, 2009, 9: 633–638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Liu G G, He F, Li X Q, et al. Three-dimensional cuprous oxide microtube lattices with high catalytic activity templated by bacterial cellulose nanofibers. J Mater Chem, 2011, 21: 10637–10640

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Zhang L, Wang H. Cuprous oxide nanoshells with geometrically tunable optical properties. ACS Nano, 2011, 5: 3257–3267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Jiang T F, Xie T F, Yang W S, et al. Photoelectrochemical and photovoltaic properties of pn Cu2O homojunction films and their photocatalytic performance. J Phys Chem C, 2013, 117: 4619–4624

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Zhang Z, Zhong C, Deng Y D, et al. The manufacture of porous cuprous oxide film with photocatalytic properties via an electrochemicalchemical combination method. RSC Adv, 2013, 3: 6763–6766

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Pang H, Gao F, Lu Q Y. Glycine-assisted double-solvothermal approach for various cuprous oxide structures with good catalytic activities. Cryst Eng Comm, 2010, 12: 406–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Haque E, Kim C M, Jhung S H. Facile synthesis of cuprous oxide using ultrasound, microwave and electric heating: Effect of heating methods on synthesis kinetics, morphology and yield. Cryst Eng Comm, 2011, 13: 4060–4068

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Liu P S, Li Z G, Cai W P, et al. Fabrication of cuprous oxide nanoparticles by laser ablation in PVP aqueous solution. RSC Adv, 2011, 1: 847–851

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Seoudi R, Fouda A A, Elmenshawy D A. Synthesis, characterization and vibrational spectroscopic studies of different particle size of gold nanoparticle capped with polyvinylpyrrolidone, Physica B, 2010, 405: 906–911

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Xu Y Y, Chen D R, Jiao X L, et al. Nanosized Cu2O/PEG400 composite hollow spheres with mesoporous shells. J Phys Chem C, 2007, 111: 16284–16289

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China

    AiLing Yang, ShunPin Li, YuJin Wang & LeLe Wang

  2. Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy & Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266101, China

    XiChang Bao & RenQiang Yang

Authors
  1. AiLing Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. ShunPin Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. YuJin Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. LeLe Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. XiChang Bao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. RenQiang Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to AiLing Yang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yang, A., Li, S., Wang, Y. et al. Synthesis of Ag@Cu2O core-shell metal-semiconductor nanoparticles and conversion to Ag@Cu core-shell bimetallic nanoparticles. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 58, 881–888 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-015-5797-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-015-5797-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation