Reduction of thermally grown single-phase CuO and Cu2O thin films by in-situ time-resolved XRD

Copper oxide is used as a catalyst or catalyst precursor in chemical reactions that involve hydrogen as a reactant or a product. Controlled reduction and therefore known reduction kinetics of well-defined Cu-oxides in hydrogen is a key issue for the activation of oxide catalysts as well as for other technological fields such as gas sensing. The kinetics and mechanisms of reduction of single-phase CuO and Cu2O films in 5 vol% H-2/Ar were investigated by in-situ real time synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction measurements. To this end, the incubation time, the CuO & RARR; Cu2O and Cu2O & RARR; Cu phase transformation rates, as well as the microstructure and strain state of the evolving Cu, CuO and Cu2O phases were studied during the reduction. Highly porous Cu and Cu-oxides scaffolds were obtained by alternating oxidation and reduction steps, which can be envisaged for a wealth of applications in the fields of catalysis, batteries, water treatment and biomedical applications.

Automated summary

This study investigated the reduction kinetics and mechanisms of CuO and Cu2O films in hydrogen, and found that these films could be used in various applications such as catalysts, batteries, water treatment and biomedical applications.