Copper(II) oxide

Copper oxides (Cu₂O, CuO) are p-type semiconductor materials with small band gap energy. High physical and chemical stability of metal oxide nanoparticles renders them extremely useful in catalytic applications.The structures of the compounds are monoclinic. Nanoscaled copper oxide compounds can be prepared by thermal plasma technology. A study reports its antimicrobial properties.

Toxicity of copper oxide nanoparticles was reported. Cu₂O has been used in coating Cu nanoparticles (Cu₂O NPs). Copper oxide nanoparticles has been reported to be used as an anode material for lithium ion cells and as gas sensors on account of it high surface reactivity. Hollow Cu₂O NPs has been used in the preparation of nucleosides and as a catalyst in azide-alkyne cycloadditions by other groups. CuO NPs may be used as a catalyst for CSe, CTe, and CS bond formation and synthesis of 2-aminobenzothiazole. Molecular responses of mouse macrophages to CuO and Cu₂O NPs were studied.