Submicron-　and　nano-scale　cuprous　oxide　particles　derived　from　copper　acetate　and　copper　gluconate　complexes　were　synthesized　via　a　photochemical　route　in　polar　media　without　further　reducing　agents.　The　morphology,　composition,　and　phase　structure　of　as-prepared　Cu2O　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　transmission　electron　microscope　(TEM),　scanning　electron　microscope　(SEM),　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS).　Factors　affecting　the　morphology　and　size　of　the　Cu2O　products　have　been　examined　in　detail　to　determine　the　optimum　parameters　to　achieve　a　controllable　synthesis.　The　results　show　that　solvent　is　the　most　key　factor　in　size-　and　shape-control　of　the　Cu2O　products.　Water　induces　the　formation　of　submicron　particles,　while　alcohol　results　in　nanoscale　particles.　The　photochemical　growth　of　Cu2O　particles　can　be　fine　tuned　by　varying　the　parameters　of　the　reaction　procedure,　e.g.　solvent,　precursor　ligand,　and　additive.　The　IR　results　indicate　that　these　Cu2O　particles　result　from　the　photoinduced　intramolecular　electron　transfer　between　metal　and　ligand.　The　method　can　be　easily　controlled　and　is　expected　to　be　applicable　for　the　preparation　of　cuprous　oxide　supported　catalysts.　©　2009　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.