Solution-phase synthesis of Cu2O nanocubes

We report here the solution-phase synthesis of highly uniform and monodisperse cubic Cu2O nano- and microcubes. Copper(II) salts in water are reduced with sodium ascorbate in air, in the presence of a surfactant. The average edge length of the cubes varies from 200 to 450 nm, as a function of surfactant concentration. Transmission electronic microscopy suggests that these cubes are composed of small nanoparticles and appear to be hollow.