Controlled synthesis of hierarchical CuS architectures by a recrystallization growth process in a microemulsion system

Nano- and micro-sized hierarchical copper monosulfide (CuS) architectures composed of nanoplates have been successfully synthesized via a recrystallization growth process in a microemulsion system. In our method, the spatial separation of two reactants and low-reaction temperature can decrease the rate of growth of the CuS nuclei, resulting in the formation of the poorly crystallized CuS aggregates in an oil-in-water (o/w) microemulsion. The hierarchical CuS nanostructures are formed easily from poorly crystallized CuS by a recrystallization growth process at a higher temperature. Furthermore, the flowerlike CuS architectures can be obtained by a kinetically controlled dissolution–recrystallization mechanism. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of the hierarchical CuS architectures has been evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue solution in the presence of hydrogen peroxide under natural light, showing that the as-prepared hierarchical CuS architectures exhibit high-photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue.