Coalescence of the crystallites under hydrothermal conditions (II) - The morphology and stability energy calculation of cuprite

Cuprite (Cu2O) particles are synthesized by hydrothermal method. Most crystalline particles have long column morphology. Particles which are regarded as assembling of the crystallites in definite directions are observed. The typical example is the particles formed by assembling six columns in three perpendicular directions. The cone surfaces are visible at the tops of the columns. The results revealed that the coalescence of the crystallites did happen under hydrothermal conditions in which the crystallite connected with other crystallite on certain structure compatible surfaces to form a crystalline particle with a special morphology. This phenomenon is called the second kind of coalescence. The Cu2O structure unit is determined by its crystal structure. It is concluded that the tetragonal prism and three tetragonal prism-like growth units are the favorable units after stability energy calculation was performed on different kinds of growth units. It is believed that the first kind of coalescence exists commonly. The second kind of coalescence is unlikely to occur for all crystallites under hydrothermal conditions. The occurrence is dependent on the crystal structure.