FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CuO NANOPARTICLES AND THIN-FILMS

Abstract

Cupric oxide (CuO) is a p-type semiconductor having a band gap of 1.21-1.51 eV and monoclinic crystal structure . This oxide has useful catalytic properties, and potential applications in lithium-ion batteries, gas sensing or field emission devices and was also investigated because of its relationship with cuprate high-Tc superconductors.Cuprous oxide (Cu20) is also a p-type semiconductor having a band gap of approximately 2.0 eV and a cubic crystal structure. Its high optical absorption coefficient in the visible range and reasonably good electrical properties constitute important advantages and render Cu20 as the most interesting phase of copper oxides. Room temperature ferromagnetic properties of the Fe-doped CuO are observed. The doped sample reveal mictomagnetic properties : ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic . The superexchange interaction of second nearest ion Fe-ions couplings in the [1,1,-1] chain and Fe-O-Fe coupling may be one of the possible origins of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic . When the Fe concentration increases incr s , there is a tendency for Fe ions to form oxides with 0Z- directly instead of substituting Cu ions in the crystal latticeCuO and Cu20 materials are known to be p-type semiconductors in general and hence potentially useful for constructing junction devices such as pn junction diodes. Apart from there semiconductor applications , these materials have been employed as heterogeneous catalysts for several environmental processes such solid state gas sensor heterocontacts. Since the CuO thin-film.UV-visible graph shows it `s having high absorption in UV range so it can also be used as solid state solar energy devices.