Elucidating the effect of precursor decomposition time on the structural and optical properties of copper(i) nitride nanocubes.

Autor: Kadzutu-Sithole R; Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand Private Bag 3, Wits 2050 South Africa Juanita.VanWyk@wits.ac.za Nosipho.Moloto@wits.ac.za +27117176749 +27117176732 +27117176774., Machogo-Phao LFE; Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand Private Bag 3, Wits 2050 South Africa Juanita.VanWyk@wits.ac.za Nosipho.Moloto@wits.ac.za +27117176749 +27117176732 +27117176774., Kolokoto T; Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand Private Bag 3, Wits 2050 South Africa Juanita.VanWyk@wits.ac.za Nosipho.Moloto@wits.ac.za +27117176749 +27117176732 +27117176774., Zimuwandeyi M; Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand Private Bag 3, Wits 2050 South Africa Juanita.VanWyk@wits.ac.za Nosipho.Moloto@wits.ac.za +27117176749 +27117176732 +27117176774., Gqoba SS; Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand Private Bag 3, Wits 2050 South Africa Juanita.VanWyk@wits.ac.za Nosipho.Moloto@wits.ac.za +27117176749 +27117176732 +27117176774., Mubiayi KP; Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand Private Bag 3, Wits 2050 South Africa Juanita.VanWyk@wits.ac.za Nosipho.Moloto@wits.ac.za +27117176749 +27117176732 +27117176774., Moloto MJ; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied and Computer Science, Vaal University of Technology Private Bag X021 Vanderbijlpark South Africa., Van Wyk J; Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand Private Bag 3, Wits 2050 South Africa Juanita.VanWyk@wits.ac.za Nosipho.Moloto@wits.ac.za +27117176749 +27117176732 +27117176774., Moloto N; Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand Private Bag 3, Wits 2050 South Africa Juanita.VanWyk@wits.ac.za Nosipho.Moloto@wits.ac.za +27117176749 +27117176732 +27117176774.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: RSC advances [RSC Adv] 2020 Sep 15; Vol. 10 (56), pp. 34231-34246. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Sep 15 (Print Publication: 2020).
DOI: 10.1039/c9ra09546b
Abstrakt: To study the effect of time on the colloidal synthesis of Cu 3 N nanoparticles, copper(ii) nitrate was thermally decomposed at 260 °C for up to 60 min in octadecylamine as a stabilizing ligand. Thermolysis of the nitrate followed four steps which included; nucleation, growth, ripening and decomposition. At 5 min, partially developed nanocubes were found in a dense population of Cu 3 N nuclei. Well-defined Cu 3 N nanocubes were obtained at 15 min with no presence of the nuclei. TEM images showed disintegration of the cubes at 20 min and as time progressed, all the Cu 3 N decomposed to Cu by 60 min. The formation of the Cu 3 N nanocubes was confirmed by XRD and XPS. FTIR suggested the formation of a nitrile (RCN) as a result of the thermal decomposition in octadecylamine (ODA) and this was confirmed using NMR and hence, a reaction mechanism was then proposed. The optical properties of the as-synthesized Cu 3 N were studied using UV-vis and photoluminescence spectroscopies. The absorption spectra for particles synthesized from 5 min to 15 min showed a singular exciton peak while from 20 min to 60 min two peaks were observed. The two peaks may both be associated with the two direct transitions observed in Cu 3 N or the more red-shifted peak could be a result of localized surface plasmon resonance due to the Cu nanoparticles. Nevertheless, similar to other studies, it is clear that the optical properties of Cu 3 N are complex.
Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare.
(This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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