Effects of Annealing on the Properties of Copper Oxide Thin Films
Thin films of copper oxide were successively deposited on glass substrates by sol-gel like spin coating for 40 s and annealed in air at different temperatures (200-400°C). Precursor solutions were prepared by dissolving cupric chloride in methanol. Various stabilizers and additives were used to enhance the solubility of cupric chloride and to improve the adhesion between the films and the glass substrates. Glucopone was used as a surfactant to reduce the surface energy. The evolution of oxide coatings under thermal treatment was studied by glancing incidence X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Annealing the films in air at 300°C converts the films to CuO. The general appearances of the films were uniform and brownish in color.