Synthesis of Cu/CuO nanostructures obtained by electrochemical deposition

Abstract

Unique physical-chemical properties of nanostructured materials are explained by the crystal structure, geometry and conductive properties that can be controlled by changing the synthesis conditions of nanostructures. In turn, the process of electrochemical deposition makes it possible to control the formation of nanostructures and their physical-chemical properties with high accuracy. Electrochemical synthesis in tracks of the template was carried out in potentiostatic mode at a voltage of 0.5 to 1.5 V. The electrolyte temperature was 25, 35, 50 °C. The composition of the electrolyte solution: CuSO4·5H2O (238g/l), H2SO4 (21g/l). The yield of copper by current from the sulfuric acid solutions of electrolytes is 100%. The growth of nanostructures was monitored by the chronoamperometry method with the "Agilent 34410A" multimeter. Since the template PET matrices are dielectric, a layer of gold with a thickness of no more than 10 nm, which is further a working electrode (cathode) during electrochemical deposition, was deposited to create a conductive layer by magnetron sputtering in a vacuum. By controlling the deposition time, the difference in the applied potentials, the electrolyte temperature, we can change the geometric parameters of synthesized nanostructures. All possible reactions associated with the synthesis process are listed below.