Example 1
In a Teflon-sealed autoclave, CuS nanoplates having a three-dimensional structure were synthesized using a solvothermal method. Copper nitrate (Cu(NO3)2.3H2O), cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), hexane and n-pentanol, used in the synthesis, were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. A microemulsion was used, which consists of water containing 0.1 M CTAB (in hexane), 8.65 moles (based on CTAB) of n-pentanol and 10 moles (based on CTAB) of 0.2 M copper nitrate. A 0.2M aqueous solution of copper nitrate was added to a mixture solution of pentanol and hexane containing CTAB, and then stiffed until the solution became transparent. The microemulsion was introduced into a 100 ml Teflon-sealed autoclave, and then 0.8 ml of carbon disulfide was added. The autoclave was placed in an oven and treated at 170° C. for 15 hours. Next, the obtained black precipitate was washed several times with acetone and ethanol and dried in a vacuum oven at a temperature of 60° C. A scanning electron microscope (SEM, Varios 460) and an X-ray diffraction analyzer (XRD, RIGAKU, D/MAX-2500) were used to confirm the three-dimensional structure and crystalline structure of the nanoplates synthesized as described above.