Preparation and characterization of CuO nanoparticles encapsulated in mesoporous Silica

CuO nanoparticles supported in mesoporous silica MCM-41 (or CuO-nano-MCM-41 nanocomposites) were prepared via an in situ method. A 2.10 wt.% Cu loading was achieved without the loss of pore ordering. Highly dispersed and uniform CuO nanoparticles could be detected using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirming also the absence of large particles outside the mesopore silica. The bandgaps of the resulting CuO particles are widened from 1.7 to 3.15 eV for an indirect allowed bandgap and from 3.25 to 4.43 eV for a direct allowed interband transition owing to the quantum size effect. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.