CuO nanoflowers: Multifaceted implications of various precipitating agents on rectification behaviour

In order to achieve the best possible use of traditional energy resources for the preservation of the environment, semiconductor-based optoelectronic devices are one of the most intriguing methods for converting light energy into electrical energy. CuO has been extensively explored as a material for energy conversion and the development of photo-detectors due to its notable characteristics among other metals, especially its non-toxicity, abundance, high efficiency, electrochemical stability and low cost/promising photodiode. However, some drawbacks limit its practical application in white light and photo-detector, including the rapid recombination rate of photo-generated electron-hole pairs and destitute response to visible light. As a result, several strategies have been developed from an optoelectronics perspective to eradicate these deficiencies and make an effort to enhance CuO photodiode activities. In this research work, the electrical characteristics and rectification behaviour of CuO with various precipitating agents have been examined. The CuO nanoparticles can be synthesized by co-precipitation technique prepared with different precipitants. Through this research, several parameters, such as the structural, functional, morphological, optical and electrical characteristics, were investigated by changing the precipitants. The functional group formation of pure CuO phase was confirmed by FT-IR studies. UV–Vis absorption measurements indicate that the band gap of the CuO nanoparticles was ranging from 2.40 to 2.85 eV. As a diode, CuO/p-Si exhibits a non-ideal behaviour and under light conditions with Na2CO3 precipitant, the better ideality factor is about 2.35. The barrier height is determined by the thermionic emission theory to be 0.77 and 0.79 eV in the dark and light conditions respectively. [Display omitted] •Precipitation selection significantly enhances CuO nanoparticle properties: structural, functional, morphological, optical, and electrical aspects.•NaOH modification of CuO nanoparticles reduces the energy gap, influencing defect formation and energy band structure.•CuO nanoflowers from Na2CO3 precipitator show exceptional rectification behaviour, surpassing others.•Precipitation control offers opportunities to tailor nanoparticle behaviour across various fields like biomedicine, photovoltaics and catalysis.