Ultra-small CuO nanoparticles with tailored energy-band diagram synthesized by a hybrid plasma-liquid process

Velusamy, Tamilselvan and Liguori, Anna and Macias-Montero, Manuel and Padmanaban, Dilli Babu and Carolan, Darragh and Gherardi, Matteo and Colombo, Vittorio and Maguire, Paul and Svrcek, Vladimir and Mariotti, Davide (2017) Ultra-small CuO nanoparticles with tailored energy-band diagram synthesized by a hybrid plasma-liquid process. Plasma Processes and Polymers, 14 (7). 1600224. ISSN 1612-8869 (https://doi.org/10.1002/ppap.201600224)

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Abstract

CuO is a versatile p-type material for energy applications capable of imparting diverse functionalities by manipulating its band-energy diagram. We present ultra-small quantum confined cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) synthesized via a simple one-step environmentally friendly atmospheric pressure microplasma synthesis process. The proposed method, based on the use of a hybrid plasma-liquid cell, enables the synthesis of CuO NPs directly from solid metal copper in ethanol with neither surfactants nor reducing agents. CuO NPs films are then used for the first time in all-inorganic third generation solar cell devices demonstrating highly effective functionalities as blocking layer.

ORCID iDs

Velusamy, Tamilselvan, Liguori, Anna, Macias-Montero, Manuel, Padmanaban, Dilli Babu, Carolan, Darragh, Gherardi, Matteo, Colombo, Vittorio, Maguire, Paul, Svrcek, Vladimir and Mariotti, Davide ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1504-4383;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)