In this work Cu2O microcrystals with various morphologies including octahedrons, cubes and hollow spheres were employed as the antimicrobial for the devitalization of Escherichia coli (E.coli). It was found that during the devitalization of E. coli, Cu2O microcrystals with various shapes presented similar change trend and finally was converted into flowerlike microstructures constructed by abundant nanosheets. Also, the shape change always started from {1 0 0} planes. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.