Temperature electrolyte influences on the phase composition of anodic CuOx nanostructures

In this work, the effect of the electrolyte solution temperature on the morphology, phase composition, and photoelectrochemical properties of CuOx nanostructures were investigated. It has been shown that rising temperatures do not form the well-studied Cu(OH)2 nanorods, but CuO nanosheets 5–7 nm thick, layered on top of each other. The obtained copper oxide nanostructures possess the CuO crystal structure immediately after anodising. As the temperature of the electrolyte increases, the degree of light reflection decreases in the wavelength range from 190 to 1100 nm, with a maximum of 1.25%. [Display omitted] •Dependence of photoelectrochemical properties of anodic copper oxide nanostructures on the electrolyte temperature.•Photoelectrodes with an outstanding light absorption coefficient.•A direct way to obtain crystalline nanostructured anodic copper oxide without thermal treatment.•Model of migration of photoinduced charge carriers in the Cu2O/CuO system.