Cuprous Oxide Research Articles

Electrical, optical and nonlinear optical process in spray pyrolyzed Zn:CuO nanostructures for optoelectronic device applications

Nanostructured pure and Zn doped CuO thin films were deposited on a glass substrate at 400 °C using the chemical spray pyrolysis method. The fabricated thin films were characterized to study the compositional, structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties. X-ray diffraction spectra show the polycrystalline nature of the sample and confirm the monoclinic phase of copper oxide. Raman analysis further confirms the absence of cuprous oxide phases and impurities. High absorbance in the visible region was observed for the films with bandgap values ranging from 1.7–2.0 eV. A near-band edge emission peak in the red region is recorded in the photoluminescence spectra. Uniformly distributed nanoparticles are observed in SEM images. Hall effect measurements indicate p-type conductivity and 5% Zn doped copper oxide showed the highest conductivity and carrier concentration. The non-linear absorption coefficient (β eff) of the samples was obtained with the help of z-scan method with a Helium-Neon laser under the CW regime. Zn doping results in an increase in nonlinear absorption, supporting the use of Zn:CuO for optoelectronic devices.

Evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy of copper oxide nanoparticles synthesized by green methods using Justicia adhatoda

This work describes the eco-friendly production of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles using Justicia adhatoda plant extract as a reducing and capping agent. FTIR, dynamic light scattering, XRD, and scanning electron microscopy were used to analyse the generated cupric oxide nanoparticles. The data showed that CuO nanoparticles were cubic with an average particle size of less than 19.27 nm. The CuO nanoparticles were examined for their capacity to inhibit Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and fungus using the agar well diffusion technique. According to the findings, CuO nanoparticles display a substantial level of bactericidal activity against all examined microorganisms. As a result, this investigation offers a strategy that is favourable to the environment and economical for the production of CuO nanoparticles. It also emphasises these particles’ significant antibacterial properties for biological applications.

Metal oxide-dispersed PDMS nanocomposite films with enhanced heat-shielding ability and optical transparency

Coatings that transmit visible light and shield near-infrared (NIR) rays of sunlight have potential applications in smart windows, thermal camouflage, and heat shielding encapsulations. Here, we report metal oxide-dispersed polymer nanocomposites as potential coating materials that possess a combination of NIR reflection and visible light transmission. Film coatings (∼600 μm) comprising nanocrystalline zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), and cupric oxide (CuO) in the range of 0–2 wt% in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix are fabricated. At optimal compositions, these coatings provided up to 52 % reduction in the interior air temperature, measured at distances ∼3 cm beneath the surface, while, at the same time, retaining up to 70 % of visible light transparency. The NIR reflection may be attributed to a combination of the band gap of the pigment material and the difference between the refractive indices of the pigments and the polymer matrix. We present a design map that highlights different regimes of heat-shielding and light transmission space for PDMS nanocomposite films. The performance, when compared with existing reports, suggests that films fabricated in this work outperform previously reported polymeric coatings in providing a combination of heat shielding and optical transparency.

Multispectral Holographic Intensity and Phase Imaging of Semitransparent Ultrathin Films.

In this paper, we demonstrate a novel optical characterization method for ultrathin semitransparent and absorbing materials through multispectral intensity and phase imaging. The method is based on a lateral-shearing interferometric microscopy (LIM) technique, where phase-shifting allows extraction of both the intensity and the phase of transmitted optical fields. To demonstrate the performance in characterizing semitransparent thin films, we fabricated and measured cupric oxide (CuO) seeded gold ultrathin metal films (UTMFs) with mass-equivalent thicknesses from 2 to 27 nm on fused silica substrates. The optical properties were modeled using multilayer thin film interference and a parametric model of their complex refractive indices. The UTMF samples were imaged in the spectral range from 475 to 750 nm using the proposed LIM technique, and the model parameters were fitted to the measured data in order to determine the respective complex refractive indices for varying thicknesses. Overall, by using the combined intensity and phase not only for imaging and quality control but also for determining the material properties, such as complex refractive indices, this technique demonstrates a high potential for the characterization of the optical properties, of (semi-) transparent thin films.

Optimization of Cu2O Thickness to Enhance Photocatalytic Properties of Electrodeposited Cu2O/FTO Photoanode

Currently, n-type cuprous oxide (Cu2O) is a promising material as photocatalyst because of its energy gap of 2 eV that absorbs visible light up to a wavelength of 600 nm. As a photoelectrode, the thickness of Cu2O is crucial, where the improper thickness may worsen the photocatalytic properties. This work aimed to enhance the photocatalytic properties of Cu2O electrodeposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO), called Cu2O/FTO, by optimizing the Cu2O thickness. The thickness of Cu2O was controlled by adjusting the deposition time in the electrochemical deposition of Cu2O/FTO. By changing the deposition time from 5 to 45 min, the morphology of Cu2O changed from a leaf-like shape to an irregular facet shape with highly dense coverage, and the average thickness increased from 370 to 1100 nm. The increasing Cu2O thickness resulted in the increasing light absorption. The Cu2O/FTO demonstrated anodic photocurrent, which increased with the Cu2O thickness up to a threshold value of 1000 nm (35 min deposition time). At a thickness of 1000 nm, Cu2O/FTO achieved the highest photocurrent (150 and 58 µA under irradiation of 365 and 470 nm, respectively) due to the highly dense morphology and high absorption. In addition, with a thickness of 1000 nm, the charge diffusion was still good. Further, the increase of Cu2O film thickness higher than 1000 nm caused low photocatalytic properties even though the morphology was highly dense, and the absorption was the highest. This condition could be due to the relatively too-high resistance of Cu2O that caused poor charge diffusion. Copyright © 2024 by Authors, Published by BCREC Publishing Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Simultaneous Detection of Epicatechin and Theophylline in Black Tea with Nano Cupric Oxide Infused Graphite Electrode

Simultaneous Detection of Epicatechin and Theophylline in Black Tea with Nano Cupric Oxide Infused Graphite Electrode

Detoxification of toxic nerve agent sarin utilizing cupric oxide functionalized activated carbon fabric composite for advanced NBC Protective Clothing

ABSTRACT This investigation delves into the development of cupric oxide functionalized activated carbon fabrics (ACF@CuO) as a filter material for self-decontaminating protective clothing designed to counter chemical warfare agents (CWAs). Three variants of samples were developed by controlling functionalization levels (7.5%, 13.0%, 16.0% w/w) through optimized precursor concentrations, integrating CuO particles onto ACF surfaces. Comprehensive analysis using techniques like FTIR, BET surface area, SEM, EDX, STEM, XRD, TGA, and XPS explored the material’s properties. The studies concentrated on evaluating the performance through kinetic studies of self-detoxification of CWA Sarin (GB) using developed ACF@CuO materials analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). ACF@CuO with 16% w/w functionalization exhibited superior self-decontamination against GB, achieving 92.87% efficiency within 18 hours, in contrast to 26.55% for ACF alone. Additionally, materials were tested for tensile strength, air-permeability, and Sulfur Mustard breakthrough time (HDBTT) as per IS 17377:2020 standard. The material with 13% w/w functionalization emerged as the recommended filter layer for CWA protective clothing designed for defense and civilian safety applications. The significant improvements in the self-decontamination efficiency of the material were attributed to the synergistic effects of ACF’s adsorption capabilities combined with the decontamination properties of CuO rod-shaped crystals embedded in the surface of ACF.

Structural, Optical and Dielectric Properties of Some Nanocomposites Derived from Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Embedded in Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) Matrix.

Polymer nanocomposite films based on poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) incorporated with different amounts of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were prepared by the solution casting technique. The PVP/CuO nanocomposites were analyzed by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy and dielectric spectroscopy. The XRD analysis showed that the monoclinic structure of cupric oxide was maintained in the PVP host matrix. The key optical parameters, such as optical energy gap Eg, Urbach energy EU, absorption coefficient and refractive index, were estimated based on the UV-Vis data. The optical characteristics of the nanocomposite films revealed that their transmittance and absorption were influenced by the addition of CuO nanoparticles in the PVP matrix. Incorporation of CuO nanoparticles into the PVP matrix led to a significant decrease in band gap energy and an increase in the refractive index. The dielectric and electrical behaviors of the PVP/CuO nanocomposites were analyzed over a frequency range between 10 Hz and 1 MHz. The effect of CuO loading on the dielectric parameters (dielectric constant and dielectric loss) of the metal oxide nanocomposites was also discussed.

Transition metal (Fe, Co, Ni)-doped cuprous oxide nanowire arrays as self-supporting catalysts for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction to ethylene

The transition metal (Fe, Co, Ni)-doped cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanowire arrays on Cu mesh (CM) (M-Cu2O@CM, M = Fe, Co, Ni) are successfully synthesized for the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to ethylene (C2H4) through the simple calcination and impregnation-exchange methods. Systematic characterizations have demonstrated that the Ni/Co doping in Cu2O@CM is conducive to stabilizing the Cu+ sites due to the electron transfer from Cu2O to Ni/Co, while the Fe doping has the opposite effect. Consequently, they show the different electrocatalytic performances of Ni-Cu2O@CM > Co-Cu2O@CM > Cu2O@CM > Fe-Cu2O@CM for CO2RR to C2H4 in an H-cell. Among them, Ni-Cu2O@CM exhibits the ∼2.0-fold faradaic efficiency for C2H4 (58.2 % vs. 28.7 %) and the ∼2.5-fold current density (−37.6 vs. −15.0 mA·cm−2) at −1.1 V vs. RHE, as compared with Cu2O@CM. Further experiments reveal that during the electrocatalytic CO2RR, the Ni-Cu2O@CM can generate more *CO, which promotes the C–C coupling reaction. The activity of Co-Cu2O@CM is lower than Ni-Cu2O@CM because of the strong adsorption of *COOH, while the Fe-Cu2O@CM even exhibits a lower activity than Cu2O@CM. This work provides an insight into the effect of transition metal-doped Cu2O array on the electrocatalytic CO2RR to C2H4 products.

Photo-electric properties of ultra-thin cuprous oxide films prepared by electrodeposition

Photo-electric properties of ultra-thin cuprous oxide films prepared by electrodeposition

Deciphering Bisphenol A degradation by Coelastrella sp. M60: unravelling metabolic insights through metabolomics analysis

Microalgae, owing to their efficacy and eco-friendliness, have emerged as a promising solution for mitigating the toxicity of Bisphenol A (BPA), a hazardous environmental pollutant. This current study was focused on the degradation of BPA by Coelastrella sp. M60 at various concentrations (10-50 mg/L). Further, the metabolic profiling of Coelastrella sp. M60 was performed using GC-MS analysis, and the results were revealed that BPA exposure modulated the metabolites profile with the presence of intermediates of BPA. In addition, highest lipid (43%) and pigment content (40%) at 20 and 10 mg/L of BPA respectively exposed to Coelastrella sp. M60 was achieved and enhanced fatty acid methyl esters recovery was facilitated by Cuprous oxide nanoparticles synthesised using Spatoglossum asperum. Thus, this study persuades thepotential of Coelastrella sp. M60 for BPA degradation and suggesting new avenues to remove the emerging contaminants in polluted water bodies and targeted metabolite expression in microalgae.

Cu2O/Biochar-Styrene acrylic double layer composite coatings modified by NaCl: Special surface and antifouling performance

In order to pursue optimize antifouling performance and protect the metal substrate from direct contact with external environment, the sodium chloride (NaCl) modified cuprous oxide (Cu2O)/Biochar (BC)/styrene-acrylic (SA)-SA double-layer coatings with the effective and controllable release rate of Cu2+ were prepared. The NaCl particles were dispersed and dissolved in the Cu2O/BC/SA layer (the functional layer) as the pore-forming agent, which can increase the contact between Cu2O/BC and external environment in order to control the release rate of Cu2+ of coatings. A large capacity photobioreactor was designed to conduct adhesion tests of marine microalgae Nannochloropsis oceanica (N. oceanica) and fresh Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) on the coatings, aiming to evaluate the antifouling performance. Results show that the Cu2O/BC/SA-SA coating modified with 3 wt% NaCl possesses the best antifouling property, which is 63.7 % higher than that of unmodified coating and 92.8 % higher than that of pure SA membrane.

Constructing cuprous oxide-modified zinc tetraphenylporphyrin ultrathin nanosheets heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction to methane

The application of supermolecular naonostructures in the photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) has attracted increasing attentions. However, it still faces significant challenges, such as low selectivity for multi-electron products and poor stability. Here, the cuprous oxide (Cu2O)-modified zinc tetraphenylporphyrin ultrathin nanosheets (ZnTPP NSs) are successfully constructed through the aqueous chemical reaction. Comprehensive characterizations confirm the formation of type-II heterojunction between Cu2O and ZnTPP in Cu2O@ZnTPP, and the electron transfer from Cu2O to ZnTPP through the Zn-O-Cu bond under the static contact. Under the visible-light irradiation (λ > 420 nm), the optimized Cu2O@ZnTPP sample as catalyst for photocatalytic CO2RR exhibits the methane (CH4) evolution rate of 120.9 μmol/g/h, which is ∼ 4 and ∼ 10 times those of individual ZnTPP NSs (28.0 μmol/g/h) and Cu2O (12.8 μmol/g/h), respectively. Meanwhile, the CH4 selectivity of ∼ 98.7 % and excellent stability can be achieved. Further experiments reveal that Cu2O@ZnTPP has higher photocatalytic conversion efficiency than Cu2O and ZnTPP NSs, and the photoinduced electron transfer from ZnTPP to Cu2O can be identified via the path of ZnTPP→ (ZnTPP•ZnTPP)*→ ZnTPP-→ Zn-O-Cu → Cu2O. Consequently, Cu2O@ZnTPP exhibits a shorter electron-hole separation lifetime (3.3 vs. 9.3 ps) and a longer recombination lifetime (23.1 vs. 13.4 ps) than individual ZnTPP NSs. This work provides a strategy to construct the organic nanostructures for photocatalytic CO2RR to multi-electron products.

Solution-processed nanoporous and faceted CuO electrocatalyst for enhanced solar-to-hydrogen and nitrate-to-ammonia production

Porosity control and facet engineering of electrocatalysts are critical for sustainable hydrogen production and wastewater upcycling into value-added chemicals. Herein, we report the sol-gel synthesis of a nanoporous faceted cupric oxide (nf-CuO) electrocatalyst film via a controlled polyesterification reaction. The formation mechanism of the unique nf-CuO morphology was analyzed and proposed. Notably, ligand additives such as ethylene glycol, citric acid, and polyethylene glycol function as morphology-controlling agents, and the polyesterification reaction between ligands can form covalent gel networks with trapped Cu ions. During thermal annealing, nucleation and nanoparticle growth along the covalent gel network enabled the formation of nanoporous and multifaceted CuO electrocatalysts on fluorine-doped SnO2 substrates, which was verified using ex-situ thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The optimally synthesized nf-CuO exhibited high electrocatalytic activity in both photoelectrochemical hydrogen production and electrochemical nitrate reduction reactions. This enhanced performance was attributed to the nanoporosity-induced light-harvesting enhancement, enlarged surface area, and increased number of active sites. Our work emphasizes the importance of additive engineering to simultaneously control the porosity and facets of electrocatalysts and demonstrates its effectiveness in enhancing the electrocatalytic activity of diverse energy conversion devices.

Classical dynamics and semiclassical analysis of excitons in cuprous oxide

Classical dynamics and semiclassical analysis of excitons in cuprous oxide

Excitation of optically trapped single particles using femtosecond pulses.

Excitation from optically trapped particles is examined through laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy following interactions with mJ-level fs pulses. Optical emissions from sub-ng ablation of precisely positioned cupric oxide microparticles are used as a method to spatially resolve laser-particle interactions resulting in excitation. External focusing lenses are often used to change the dynamics of nonlinear self-focusing of fs pulses to form laser filaments or, alternatively, to form very intense air plasmas. Given the significant implications external focusing has on laser propagation and plasma conditions, single-particle emissions are studied with focusing lenses ranging from 50 to 300 mm. It is shown that, while single particles are less excited at longer focal lengths due to limited energy transfer through laser-particle interactions, the cooler plasma results in a lower thermal background to reveal resolved single-shot emission peaks. By developing an understanding in the fundamental interaction that occurs between single particles and fs pulses and filaments, practical improvements can be made for atmospheric remote sensing of low-concentration aerosols.

By the force of decay: A green strategy to fabricate white rot fungal degraded wood for sustainable oil/water separation

Two species of white rot fungi, Coriolus versicolor（Cv）and Fomes fomentarius (Ff), were successfully applied to selectively degrade lignin of balsa wood, which caused weight loss of 15.66% and 9.66% respectively. Subsequently, the remained wood template was impregnated with 1 wt% cuprous oxide modified phenol formaldehyde resin and 4.8 wt% Stearic acid (STA, C17H35COOH), which was endowed with superhydrophobicity, high oil absorption capacity and filtration efficiency up to 8.97 g/g and 95% respectively. It was first time discovered that the absorption capacity of as prepared wood was not decreased but improved with the increase of the recycle times. Characterized by absorption efficiency of chloroform increased from the initial 5.69–8.97 g/g after 84 times repeat oil absorption process. While, the filtration efficiency for chloroform remains above 95% even after 84 cycles. Furthermore, the as modified balsa wood performed desirable photocatalytic degradation efficiency toward methylene blue (MB) more than 95% even after 84 cycles, this multifunctional aspect enhances the material's applicability for various environmental remediation purposes. This work proposed a novel, green and facile strategy to fabricate sustainable oil/water separation material, which has potential to be applied to oil/water separation industry.

Numerical study on entropy minimization in pipes with helical airfoil and CuO nanoparticle integration

Abstract In this study, minimizing entropy generation in a horizontal pipe is numerically investigated through two passive techniques: in the first mode, the helical wire inserts in the pipe were placed at three various ratios of pitch ratio. The second mode is adding cupric oxide nanoparticles at various volume concentrations. Experiments were conducted for Reynolds numbers ranging from 4,000 to 14,000 under a uniform heat flux scenario of 25,000 W/m2. The study utilized the ANSYS 14.5 software, employing the K-omega standard model, which involves three primary governing equations: continuity, momentum, and energy. According to the data, it was determined that the helical wire placed inside the pipe with a small pitch ratio decreased the entropy generation number. Cupric oxide nanoparticles also have a substantial impact on the entropy generation number. The higher volume concentration models had lower entropy generation numbers and Bejan numbers than the other models. Comparative analyses further emphasize the substantial advantages of using cupric oxide nanofluids and helical-wire inserts, with efficiency gains ranging from 5.08 to 11.7%.

Interlaced stacked hollow Cu2O dendrite for stable lithium metal anode

The stable operation of lithium metal batteries faces hindrances due to the persistent issue of uncontrolled lithium dendrite growth. In this study, we present a facile approach wherein 3D structured cuprous oxide (Cu2O) dendrites are constructed on flat copper foil through a straightforward process involving electrodeposition and subsequent high-temperature treatment. The thin lithium oxide (Li2O) layer stemming from lithiophilic Cu2O further establishes a conducive channel for the swift diffusion of lithium ions (Li+) at the solid-liquid interface. Notably, the staggered stacking of Cu2O dendrite results in a 3D structure with a significantly enlarged specific surface area, which not only mitigates current density but also promotes a uniform distribution of Li flow. The proposed Cu2O electrode yields superior performance, achieving a Coulombic efficiency of up to 98.2% and a sustained lithium deposition/stripping process lasting an impressive 880 h. In the full cells, employing Li/Cu2O dendrite electrode, an exceptional Coulombic efficiency (CE) of 99.9% is attained after 160 cycles at 1C, coupled with an admirable capacity retention rate of 84%. These findings underscore the promising potential of the Cu2O dendrite electrode for advancing the practical applications of lithium metal batteries.

HsGDY 3D Framework-Encapsulated Cu2O Quantum Dots for High-Efficiency Energy Storage.

Nanostructured electrode materials become a vital component for future electrode materials because of their short electron and ion transport distances for fast charge and discharge processes and sufficient space between particles for volume expansion. So, achieving a smaller size of the nanomaterial with stable structure and high electrode performance is always the pursuit. Herein, the hybrid electrode material system hydrogen-substituted graphdiyne (HsGDY)/Cu2O-quantum dots (QDs) composed of an active carbon substrate and vibrant metal oxide QD load was established by HsGDY and cuprous oxide. The HsGDY frame with conjugated structure not only delivers impressive capacity by a self-exchange mechanism but also characterizes a matrix to forge strong connections with numerous active Cu2O-QDs for the prevention of aggregation, leading to a homogeneous storage and transport of charge in a bulk material of crisscross structural pores. QD-based electrode materials would exhibit desired capacities by their large surface area, abundant active surface atoms, and the short diffusion pathway. The hybrid system of HsGDY/Cu2O-QDs delivers an ultrahigh capacity of 1230 mA h g-1 with loading density reaching up to 1 mg cm-2. In the meantime, the electrode exhibits a long cycle stability of over 8000 cycles. The synergistic effect endows the hybrid system electrode with an approximately theoretical energy density, suggesting the great potential of such carbon/QD hybrid material system applied for high-performance batteries.