New article published in 13(2A) - SENCIR 2025

Cu₂O film: production and characterization

Abstract: The increasing demand for renewable energy solutions has driven research into cost-effective materials for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production. This study presents the synthesis and characterization of Cu₂O thin films obtained via electrodeposition, aiming to optimize their structural, optical, and electronic properties for photocatalytic applications. UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed a direct bandgap of 2.0 eV, confirming the material's suitability for visible light absorption. Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction (GIXRD) analysis demonstrated that the films predominantly belong to the cubic crystal system, with a preferential (111) crystalline orientation. On the other hand, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), a surface-sensitive technique, indicated the coexistence of Cu₂O and a minor proportion of CuO, likely resulting from surface oxidation. While bulk characterization confirmed that the core material remained Cu₂O, the presence of hydroxides and carbonates in the surface suggests that optimizing deposition conditions or post-treatment processes could enhance stability and phase purity. These findings underscore the potential of Cu₂O films as efficient photocathodes for hydrogen production. Future studies should focus on minimizing surface oxidation and integrating Cu₂O-based electrodes into complete photoelectrochemical cells for sustainable energy applications. Read full article.