What is it about?

We have deposited thin films of copper oxide (CuO) and copper-cerium metal oxide composite (CuO-CeO2) on glass substrates at 400°C using spray pyrolysis. The prepared films' structural, optical, topographical, and morphological properties were investigated. The CuO sample had an irregular monoclinic phase with a sharp peak at (111). The CuO-CeO2 composite sample formed a monoclinic-cubic phase. Optical observations showed that the bandgaps of CuO and CuO-CeO2 thin films were 2.2 and 2,65 eV, respectively. The metal oxide compound sample's emission peak is 502 nm, while the copper oxide sample is 554 nm. AFM observations show that the deposited films are homogeneous, and the particles are spread along the surface with an average diameter of 35–93 nm. FESEM micrographs of the CuO film showed a random grain dispersion with a trapezium grain structure. The porous CuO-CeO2 film had particle sizes from 18 to 350 nm and an average of 94 nm.

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Why is it important?

We have investigated that cerium oxide in the copper oxide crystal lattice impacted the crystal structure's quality and size. The Ce atoms increased the grain spreads on the CuO-CeO2 film's surface, causing it to grow in size. Porous CuO-CeO2 film surfaces with high roughness improve visible light absorption, making them useful in optoelectronics and gas sensors, which are traps for target gas molecules.

Perspectives

It was a pleasure working on preparing and writing this article, as the co-researcher is a master's degree student, and he was very cooperative. Our results effectively contribute to developing the properties of optical detectors and gas sensors.

Jamal M. Rzaij
University of Anbar

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This page is a summary of: Synthesis and characterization study of CuO thin film and CuO-CeO2 nanostructured composite using chemical spray pyrolysis, January 2023, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/5.0120468.
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