Work

On the properties of CuO/ZnO heterostructures obtained via thermal decomposition of metal acetates: Role of precursor strategy

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: CuO/ZnO heterostructures were synthesized via thermal decomposition of metal acetates following two distinct precursor strategies. Initially, pure CuO and ZnO powders were obtained by separate decomposition of copper(II) acetate monohydrate and zinc acetate dihydrate, respectively. In the first approach, both acetates were mixed prior to thermal treatment, yielding a direct CuO/ZnO heterostructure. In contrast, a second heterostructure was prepared by combining pre-synthesized CuO with zinc acetate before decomposition, resulting in a compositionally similar but structurally distinct material. All samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL), and evaluated for their photocatalytic activity under UV–Vis irradiation. The analysis revealed that the precursor route significantly influenced the particle size, crystallite size, optical emission profiles, and photocatalytic performance. These findings highlight the critical role of synthesis design in tuning the functional properties of CuO/ZnO-based heterostructures and open new pathways for optimizing oxide-based photocatalysts through simple and scalable fabrication routes.

Source: Next Materials

DOI: 10.1016/j.nxmate.2025.100957

Authors: Florencia Yazmín Donaire Pereyra, Oscar Marin-Ramirez

Institutions: National University of Tucumán, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

Language: English

Topic: ZnO doping and properties

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,280

Funders: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán