Preparation of ultra-fine CuO:: Comparison of polymer gel methods and conventional precipitation processes

Different ways of preparing ultra-fine copper oxide were examined. Polymer precursor techniques using polyvinyl alcohol and acrylamide were compared with the conventional precipitation of copper salts and further calcination. Thermal analysis, XRD and TEM were employed to monitor polymer degradation and the phase transformations leading to copper oxide and to characterise particle size. Copper oxide obtained by precipitation from copper nitrate has smaller particles size meanwhile that obtained by acrylamide combustion method agglomerates in lower extension. Differences between XRD crystallite size calculations and TEM observations of particles size were checked.