Analysis of Nanostructured CuO Thin Films Grown with Microwave Activated Chemical Bath Deposition When Process Is Repeated for Thickness Increase
Abstract
Nanostructured CuO shows perspectives as solar cell and water splitting material because of bandgap value and properties dependence on the employed technology. CuO films deposited with microwave activated chemical bath deposition show interesting nano-morphology and characteristics. This technique is simple and inexpensive; it requires less than 5-minute-long deposition time plus temperature below 75 oC - conditions desirable for solar energy capture devices. When processes are repeated for thickness increase, important changes of CuO films characteristics occur. Optical microscopy, SEM, XRD and Raman spectroscopy reveal morphological and structural properties. Transmission and reflection spectra show corresponding changes. Key words: nanostructured CuO, MW-CBD, solar cell, water splitting