The anodization synthesis of copper oxide nanosheet arrays and their photoelectrochemical properties

We studied the growth of copper oxide nanosheet arrays on copper foil via a simple anodization method. The structures, morphologies, and elemental compositions of the specimens were characterized with an X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, high resolution transmission electron microscope, and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer. The copper oxide (Cu2O and CuO) nanosheet arrays were comprised of 30-nm-thick nanosheets that stand vertically on the Cu substrate. The anodizing parameters, such as the current density, temperature, and polyethylene glycol concentration, were optimized to obtain the regular nanosheet arrays. The optical absorption properties of the anodized products were evaluated using a diffuse reflectance spectrometer, and broad and strong optical absorption bands arising from the UV to visible region were observed. The photoelectrochemical performance of the nanosheet arrays was measured with chronoamperometry and cyclic voltammetry on an electrochemical work-station equipped with a Xe lamp (wavelength >400 nm). A negative photocurrent was obtained due to the p-type semiconductor of the copper oxides. The copper oxide nanosheet arrays achieve the highest photocurrent of 0.4 mA/cm(2) at the current density of 1.0 A/dm(2), temperature of 70 degrees C, and polyethylene glycol concentration of 0.5 g/L. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.