Fast synthesis, formation mechanism, and control of shell thickness of CuS hollow spheres.

CuS hollow spheres were quickly synthesized under mild conditions with spherical aggregates of Cu(2)O nanoparticles as sacrificial templates. The mechanism involved in the synthesis process has been studied using transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectra. The results show that the formation of loose aggregates of Cu(2)O nanoparticles is the key to the fast synthesis of hollow spheres at low temperature. The thickness of the shell can be controlled easily by adjusting the aggregation degree of the Cu(2)O nanoparticles.