Synthesis and catalytic activity of flower-like CuS by elemental-direct-reaction in amide-based room temperature ternary eutectic melt

ABSTRACTMicron-sized flower-like copper sulfide (CuS) has been successfully synthesized via an elemental-direct-reaction route in an amide-based ternary eutectic melt at room temperature (25°C). The characterization results from X-ray diffraction pattern, scanning electron microscopy images and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy reveal that the as-synthesized product was pure hexagonal phase flower-like CuS microspheres (about 500 nm in diameter). A possible formation mechanism of CuS flower-like structure has been proposed. Moreover, the as-prepared CuS samples were applied to decompose ammonium perchlorate (AP) and the role of CuS in the process also has been explained.