Low-Temperature Electrodeposition of Cu₂O Thin Films: Modulation of Micro-Nanostructure by Modifying the Applied Potential and Electrolytic Bath pH

Abstract

Copper(I) oxide (Cu2O) films were cathodically electrodeposited on titanium substrates. The influence of several electrodeposition parameters such as applied potential, pH, and bath temperature on phase composition, degree of crystallinity, grain size, and orientation were carefully examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Two different surface morphologies with different preferential crystal orientations are found at low temperature (30 °C) and pH 9 as a function of the applied potential. At the same temperature, highly crystalline pure Cu2O films are found at pH 12, which indicates that the crystallinity depends on the bath pH. A possible deposition mechanism is proposed, and we report on the influence of the applied potential on the crystalline structure of the deposited material.