3.1.1. Cu2O

Copper (I) oxide samples were prepared by adding 20 mL of a 0.5 M NaOH aqueous solution, dropwise and under stirring, to 10 mL of a 0.5 M CuSO4 aqueous solution, thus producing copper (II) hydroxide. An adequate volume of a 0.1 M L-ascorbic acid aqueous solution was added dropwise, in order to reduce the Cu(II)-hydroxide into copper(I) oxide, Cu2O. Particles were separated by centrifugation (6000 rpm, 15 min), washed with deionized water, and dried at 80 ◦C overnight.
