Electrodeposition of Cu2O: growth, properties, and applications

For a long time, the world has been waiting for a sustainable, inexpensive, and efficient material for application in electronic and energy conversion purposes. Cu2O thin films made by electrodeposition clearly fulfill the sustainability and cost pre-requisites, and are broadly believed that they could lead to the fabrication of highly efficient devices if well prepared and designed. Here, we review the fundamentals for electrochemical synthesis and the electrodeposition aspects and procedures for growing Cu2O. The properties of electrodeposited Cu2O in thin films and nanostructures will be discussed in view of the literature, with emphasis on the electrical and optical properties and applications in photocatalysis and photovoltaics.