Fabrication of Copper Hydroxyphosphate with Complex Architectures

Abstract

Copper hydroxyphosphate [Cu₂(OH)PO₄] with complex architectures has been synthesized through a simple\nand mild hydrothermal route in the absence of any external inorganic additives or organic structure-directing\ntemplates. Powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry\nare used to characterize various properties of the obtained samples. Single-crystals, twinned-crystals, and\nvarious novel architectures of copper hydroxyphosphate can be constructed through a careful control of synthetic\nparameters, such as the molar ratio of initial reagents, reagent concentration, reaction time, and temperature.\nOn the basis of structure and chemical bond analysis, copper hydroxyphosphate crystals tend to grow along\nthe <i>c</i>-axis and have a rotation twinned-crystal growth habit, which is essential for the formation of various\ncomplex architectures. The current approach provides a facile strategy to synthesize copper hydroxyphosphate\ncrystals with unique morphologies and complex architectures, which may be applicable to the synthesis of\nother inorganic materials.