Synthesis and characterization of SiO2, SnO2 and TiO2 metal oxide shells covering Cu2O particles

Abstract

In this work is described a means of improving the chemical stability of Cu2O@SiO2, Cu2O@SnO2 and Cu2O@TiO2 materials. The SiO2, SnO2 and TiO2 coated samples were stable from pH 3 to pH 10 for up to seven days. To determine the stability of the coated nanoparticles, and their colloidal solutions under acidic and basic conditions, colloidal nanoparticle solutions with various pH values were prepared and monitored over time. Details of the effect of variations in pH on the phase stability of core-shell type Cu2O were characterized using transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.