Fabrication and Characterization of SnO-Cu₂O Mixed Metal Oxide Thin Films for Photoelectrochemical Applications

Ahmed S 1 , Shahid MM 2 , Bakar SA 3 , Arshed N 2 , Basirun WJ 4 , Fouad H 5

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Haripur, KPK 22620, Pakistan
  • 2 Micro-Nano System Centre, School of Information Science & Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
  • 3 Nanosciences and Technology Department (NS & TD), National Centre for Physics (NCP), 44000 Islamabad, Pakistan
  • 4 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 5 Applied Medical Science Department, Community College, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia
J Nanosci Nanotechnol, 2020 12 01;20(12):7705-7709.
PMID: 32711646 DOI: 10.1166/jnn.2020.18570

Abstract

Herein, we report the synthesis of SnO, Cu₂O and SnO-Cu₂O mixed oxide thin films on fluorinedoped tin oxide (FTO) substrate by Aerosol-Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition (AACVD) process using [Cu (dmae)₂(H₂O)] and [Sn (dmae) (OAc)]₂ as molecular precursors for SnO and Cu₂O, respectively at 400 °C. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern can be ascribed to the tetragonal phase of SnO crystals with space group P4 and cubic phase of Cu₂O crystals with space group Pn- 3m/nmm, respectively. The surface morphology characteristics of SnO, Cu₂O and SnO-Cu₂Omixed oxide have been investigated using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) which revealed that the SnO was grown homogeneously in cubical shape while Cu₂O possess nano balls shaped morphologies. The UV band gap values of SnO-Cu₂O mixed oxide thin film was found to be 2.6 eV appropriate for photoelectrochemical (PEC) applications. The synthesized material was proposed for PEC applications and has shown enhanced catalytic performance in the presence of light.

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