Abstract:
The Sol-Gel method is a very attractive technique for elaborating materials, since it is known to be
able to synthesize ,at low temperature ,both nanometric powders or materials with fine
microstructure .moreover, it ensures a high chemical purity and homogeneity and also controls ,in
an accurate manner ,the morphology of the synthesized materials .
In the present work we have fabricated and characterized pure copper oxide powders “CuO” and its
composite thin film (CuO/PMMA)by sol-gel process (wet-chemistry route) using two different
precursor (CuSO4+5H2 O) and (Cu(CH3 COO)2 ,H2 O) .
Various analysis techniques have been used to characterize the CuO powders and its composites
thin films, they are divided into two category:
The structural analysis including the X-rays diffraction (XRD),the infrared
spectroscopy(IR)and the electron scanning microscopy (MEB).
UV-Visible spectroscopy has been used for the determination of optical gap.
For the CuO prepared by the first precursor (CuSO4+5H2 O) and with different annealing
temperatures ,the study by X-rays diffraction (DRX) reveals single phase monoclinic structure of
CuO ,the average crystallite size change with annealing temperature .
For the CuO prepared by the second precursor (Cu(CH3 COO)2 ,H2 O) the study by X-rays
diffraction (XRD),reveals single phase monoclinic structure of CuO ,the average crystallite size of
the powder annealed to 450℃ is 16,76nm.
The study of optical properties of the CuO/PMMA composite thin films by the two methods has
shown a band gap is estimated to be 3.91eV.
