The syntheses of CuO, Cu/Cu2O and Cu2O/CuO nanoparticles (NPs) from a single copper(II) acetate bipyridine complex by three different methods, microwave-assisted, solvothermal and borohydride, are reported. The presence of the bipyridine ligand in the copper complex would impose no necessity for additional stabilization during synthesis. The phases of formed NPs were identified by X-ray diffractio