Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of CuFeO2 Delafossite Crystals

In this study we synthetized CuFeO2 compounds using as precursors Cu2O and FeOOH with fused NaOH. The synthesis takes place is a Teflon vessel lasting 97 (Synthesis I) or 48 hrs (Synthesis II) at 210 $^{\circ}$C. The compound obtained were analyzed for crystal structure and morphology with Raman Sprectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Optical properties were obtained by UV-Vis Spectroscopy and Gas adsorption measured with a Quartz-Crystal Microbalance (QCM). Our results show that this type of hydrothermal synthesis is capable to recreate the Delafossite structure of this copper-iron oxide. This material chemisorbs water and carbon dioxide.