Plasma synthesis and treatment of copper-based nanopowders

Abstract

Cu-based nanoparticles with different morphologies were prepared via submerged elec- trical discharge of bulk copper and graphite electrodes in a CuCl2 aqueous solution. The synthesized material was subjected to laser-induced modification. The influence of discharge parameters and electrode composition on the morphology and composition of final products were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray difractometry (XRD), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. It was found that core-shell nanoparticles were formed by the treatment of a CuCl2 aqueous solution by the arc pulsed discharge with a pulse duration of 4 ms and a peak current of 10 A. Irradiation of nanoparticles in an aqueous solution by a pulsed Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm was shown to cause the shape change and size reduction of the particles. The possible formation mechanism of Cu-based nanoparticles is proposed.