LAUSR

Abstract Nanostructured Cu(II) oxide receives significant attention because of its possible applications. Very well adhered CuO films have been grown on conducting glass substrates using microwave-activated chemical bath deposition, at low temperature and in a short time. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy show that only the CuO tenorite phase is present. Scanning electron microscopy reveals a peculiar nanostructured morphology: nanowires or nanobranches that have fallen on the substrate after growing into the precursor solution, perpendicular to it. A gap value, Eg = 1.52 eV, is obtained from the diffused reflectance spectrum. Film characteristics are of interest for some applications, particularly, solar radiation harvesting.