Conversion of Cu2O nanocrystals into hollow Cu2-xSe nanocages with the preservation of morphologies.

With the use of PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone) as capping reagent, cubic, octahedral and spherical Cu2O nanocrystals were obtained in aqueous media when different reducing agents were applied. After adding selenium sources at room temperature, these nanocrystals could be converted (based on the Kirkendall effect) into hollow Cu2-xSe nanocages that keep their corresponding orignial morphologies.