We report the synthesis of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles by dc magnetron sputtering for adsorptive degradation of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), a simulant of well-known chemical warfare agent sulfur mustard (HD). The synthesized CuO nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, TEM, FE-SEM, N-2-BET, FT-IR and TGA. The average particle size calculated from XRD pattern was found to be 7 nm for as-deposited and varied up to 86 nm after postannealing. The particle size was also calculated through TEM analysis. The surface area of the particles (similar to 110-36 m(2)/g) is found to be enhanced significantly in comparison with reported in the literature. Degradation kinetics of CEES was investigated over the CuO nanoparticles and it was found that dc sputtered CuO nanoparticles give superior decontamination properties against CEES. The reactions seemed to be first order with rate constant (k) and half-life (t(1/2)) values in the range of 0.434-0.134h(-1) and 1.59-5.17 h respectively. The reaction products were characterized by GC-MS and verified through FT-IR. The data reveal the role of hydrolysis reactions in the decontamination of CEES. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.