Controlled growth of Cu₂O thin films by electrodeposition approach

Thin films of Cu₂O comprised of wavelike surface characteristic of compact nanoparticles were synthesized using a facile and cost-effective electrodeposition approach. The distinct surface morphologies with well-aligned crystal orientation were obtained through the controlled electrodeposition parameters. The high resolution AFM combined with the peak force AFM images mapped the nanomechanical and chemical properties of the Cu₂O nanostructured films. The structural, optical, and compositional analyses of the as-deposited thin films show bulk Cu₂O material. The electrodeposition approach could proceed non-intermittently under ambient conditions, and provides a facile and economic way of depositing thin films of Cu₂O with wavelike characteristics. The photoluminescence lifetime was found be very short in the range of 0.8–1.3 ns for Cu₂O films. The Mott-Schottky measurement exhibited p-type conductivity and carrier density was found to be ~2×10¹⁸. The observed photoluminescence lifetimes, and carrier densities could help implementing the Cu₂O films as an efficient hole-conducting, and photoelectrode materials in solar cells and water splitting devices.