One-dimensional CuS microstructures prepared by a PVP-assisted microwave hydrothermal method

One-dimensional (1D) CuS microstructures of assembled chains and rods have been prepared using a facile polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) assisted microwave hydrothermal (MH) method. The crystallites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and UV-vis optical absorption spectroscopy. The crystal growth and morphology evolution process have been investigated through time-dependent experiments, and the assembling of sphere into chain-like structure and the further transformation into rod-like morphology are observed. A possible formation mechanism of the as-obtained 1D structure was proposed after the investigation of the effects of the concentration of PVP and the solvent on the final products in detail. The UV-vis spectra of the spherical and rod-like CuS crystallites show a strong absorption in the visible spectrum between 500 nm and 800 nm, while the rod-like structure exhibits a distinct red shift compared to the spheres. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.