Synthesis of Different Copper Oxide Nano-Structures From Direct Thermal Decomposition of Porous Copper(ΙΙ) Metal-Organic Framework Precursors

Copper oxide nanostructures have been successfully synthesized via one-step solid-state thermolysis of two metal-organic frameworks, [Cu3(btc)2] (1) and [Cu(tpa).(dmf)] (2), (btc = benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, tpa = therephtalic acid = 1,4-benzendicarboxylic acid and dmf = dimethyl formamide) under air atmosphere at 400,  500, and 600°C. It has also been found that the reaction temperature plays a substantial role in the formation of copper oxide nanostructures. The obtained products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD),  Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Different reaction conditions were discussed. This study demonstrates that the metal-organic frameworks can be used as precursors for the preparation of nanoscale materials with difference and remarkable morphologies.