What is cupric and cuprous oxide?

Copper oxide, chemical formula CuO, is a black oxide of copper, slightly amphoteric, slightly hygroscopic. Insoluble in water and ethanol, easily soluble in acid, stable to heat, decomposing oxygen at high temperature.

Cuprous oxide, chemical formula Cu2O, is a monovalent copper oxide, bright red powder solid, almost insoluble in water, disproportionated to divalent copper and copper monomers in acidic solution, gradually oxidized to black copper oxide in moist air.

Differences between copper oxide (CuO) and cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanopowders In terms of structure, copper oxide has a monoclinic crystal structure in which Cu is coordinated by four oxygen atoms, while cuprous oxide has a cubic structure in which Cu atoms are located in the FCC sublattice and oxygen atoms in the BCC sublattice.  Solid state Cu2O is anti-magnetic, while CuO has anti-ferrite ordering.  Both are p-type semiconductors, but Cu2O has a band gap of 2 eV, while CuO has a band gap of 1.2 eV - 1.9 eV. Cu2O is obtained by oxidation of copper metal or reduction of copper(II) solution with sulfur oxides, while CuO is obtained by pyrometallurgical methods of copper extraction from ores.

Applications of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles

(1) It has a wide range of applications as an important inorganic material in the fields of catalysis, superconductivity, ceramics, etc.

(2) Used as catalysts and catalyst carriers and electrode active materials.

(3) Used as coloring agent of glass and porcelain, optical glass polishing agent, catalyst of organic synthesis, desulfurization agent and hydrogenation agent of oil.

(4) Manufacture of artificial gemstones and other copper oxides.

(5) Used in the manufacture of rayon, as well as gas analysis and determination of organic compounds.

(6) It can also be used as a combustion rate catalyst for rocket propellant. Nano copper oxide powder has superior catalytic activity and selectivity than large size copper oxide powder and others.

Applications of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles

Used for making anti-fouling paint for ship bottom (to kill low-level sea animals).

Used as fungicide, colorant for ceramics and enamel, red glass stain.

Used in the manufacture of various copper salts, analytical reagents and materials used for rectification plating in the electrical industry, fungicides for agricultural crops and rectifiers, etc.

Commonly used as a catalyst in the synthesis of organic substances.