Widening UV?Vis absorption band by Cu doped ZnO and ZnO/CuO composite

ZnO, Cu doped ZnO, and CuO were synthesized by solvothermal method. Pure ZnO and CuO show twodimensional (2D) particles with flake-like shape morphology and well-defined crystalline phases. The Cu incorporation slightly modifies the ZnO particle shape and size for low dopant. However, ZnO/CuO composite presents the co-existing morphologies with flake-like and small-rods shapes. The visible light absorption increases, directly proportional to the Cu content. However, ZnO/CuO composite shows wide ultraviolet-visible absorption between 200 and 1000 nm. The bandgap energy determined was 3.22 and 1.45 eV for ZnO and CuO, respectively. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

ZnO, Cu doped ZnO, and CuO were synthesized by solvothermal method, with ZnO and CuO showing 2D particle shape morphology; Cu incorporation slightly modifies the ZnO particle shape and size for low dopant; ZnO/CuO composite exhibits wide ultraviolet-visible absorption and lower bandgap energy.