Mechanical effects on the preparation of copper oxide (CuO) and copper (Cu) nanoparticles and their properties

This study investigates the factors influencing the production of nanoparticles and the precise control over their size and shape, with a focus on optimizing milling time, pause duration, and rotation speed. These parameters must be carefully calibrated to enhance production efficiency and prevent particle aggregation. The research also explores the structural properties of nanostructured copper (Cu) and copper oxide (CuO) powders, which were synthesized using a planetary ball mill under an argon atmosphere. Milling was performed at various time intervals, and to prevent excessive temperature buildup, grinding was paused for 20 minutes after every 10 minutes of milling. The experimental procedure for producing copper- and copper oxide-based nanoparticles spans a time range of 48–72 hours, based on a series of experiments conducted over several years. Characterization techniques, including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), were employed to analyze the crystallographic, chemical, and dimensional properties of the nanoparticles. SEM provided direct observation of the nanoparticle morphology, while XRD offered insights into their crystal structures and phases. FT-IR analysis was used for structural elucidation. The average nanoparticle sizes were determined to be approximately 20.8 nm for copper and 21.19 nm for copper oxide. Notably, at the nanoscale, the physical properties of these materials exhibited significant differences compared to their macroscopic counterparts.