Influence of different temperatures and pH on structural, morphological, and electrochemical properties of Cu2O thin films by electrodeposition in acidic media

The present work describes the effect of deposition temperatures and pH values on structural, morphological, and electrochemical properties of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) thin films deposited on the conductive SnO2 glass substrates by using electrodeposition technique in an acidic system. The chronoamperometry curve of the solution was tested on an electrochemical workstation. X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that the deposited films have better crystallinity which is deposited at the deposition temperature of 50 degrees C and pH value of 5-6. Scanning electron microscopy displays that surface morphology of the deposited films varied greatly with the deposition temperature and pH value rising. The results of quantitative study of the target product films by Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) show that they are all in line with the element content ratio of Cu2O. By measuring the resistivity and conductivity of the deposited films, it was found to be in the semiconductor range.