Copper(II) oxide (CuO) is a p-type semiconductor widely used in electronics, catalysis, and energy conversion technologies. Known for its high thermal stability, tunable band gap, and excellent photochemical activity, CuO serves as a critical material in applications such as photocatalysis, sensors, and next-generation solar devices.
Material Overview
CuO crystallizes in a monoclinic structure with a narrow band gap of approximately 1.2–1.9 eV, allowing strong absorption across the visible spectrum (Bajwa et al., 2023). It exhibits temperature-dependent semiconducting behavior, with hole carriers dominating conduction in most conditions. Thin films of CuO can be synthesized through solution deposition or thermal oxidation, displaying a giant dielectric constant (εr ≈ 104) due to Maxwell–Wagner-type interfacial polarization effects (Sarkar et al., 2006). Nanostructured CuO—especially nanowires and nanorods—offers enhanced surface area, superior photoluminescence, and improved charge separation under illumination, making it highly suitable for photocatalytic and optoelectronic devices (Kana et al., 2019).
Applications and Advantages
CuO is widely utilized in catalysis, energy harvesting, and environmental remediation. Its stability and low-cost synthesis routes make it ideal for large-scale applications in solar hydrogen generation, wastewater treatment, and energy storage systems. Photoelectrochemical studies have shown that CuO electrodes demonstrate enhanced charge transport efficiency when interfaced with conductive substrates of higher work function, improving photocurrent density during visible-light irradiation (Tomita et al., 2019). Moreover, its high reusability and robustness under cyclic operation conditions make CuO nanowires promising for long-term catalytic and thermal operations. Doping and composite formation further enhance its electrical conductivity and mechanical integrity, expanding its technological versatility.
Goodfellow Availability
Goodfellow supplies Copper(II) oxide (CuO) in various forms and purities tailored for research and industrial use. The material is available in customizable dimensions to suit applications ranging from semiconductor studies to catalytic performance testing.
Explore Copper II Oxide CuO and other advanced materials in Goodfellow’s online catalogue: Goodfellow product finder.
References
- Bajwa, A., Kaur, H., Kumar, S., & Singh, G. (2023). Study of excitation wavelength dependent photoluminescence and electrical conductivity on chemically synthesized metal semiconductor copper oxide nanorods. Surface Innovations. https://doi.org/10.1680/jsuin.23.00056
- Tomita, R., Pu, Z., Kamegawa, T., Anpo, M., & Higashimoto, S. (2019). Photoelectrochemical properties of copper oxide (CuO) influenced by work functions of conductive electrodes. Research on Chemical Intermediates, 45(12), 5849–5864. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11164-019-04012-X
- Kana, N., Kaviyarasu, K., Khamliche, T., Magdalane, C. M., & Maaza, M. (2019). Stability and thermal conductivity of CuO nanowire for catalytic applications. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 7(4), 103255. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JECE.2019.103255
- Sarkar, S., Jana, P. K., Chaudhuri, B. K., & Sakata, H. (2006). Copper (II) oxide as a giant dielectric material. Applied Physics Letters, 89(22), 222905. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2393001
- Ohya, Y., Ito, S., Ban, T., & Takahashi, Y. (2000). Preparation of CuO thin films and their electrical conductivity. Key Engineering Materials, 181–182, 113–116. https://doi.org/10.4028/WWW.SCIENTIFIC.NET/KEM.181-182.113