The structural and optical properties of Cu₂O films electrodeposited on different substrates

Cuprous oxide films were successfully electrodeposited onto three different substrates through the reduction of copper lactate in alkaline solution at pH = 10. The substrates include indium tin oxide film coated glass, n-Si wafer with (001) orientation and Au film evaporated onto Si substrate. The substrate effects on the structural and optical properties of the electrodeposited films are investigated by in situ voltammetry, current versus time transient measurement, ex situ x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV-vis transmittance and reflectance and photoluminescence techniques. The results indicate that the choice of substrate can strongly affect the film morphology, structure and optical properties.