Electronic structure comparison of Cu 2p and O 1s X-Ray photoelectron spectra for CuxO nanofibers (x = 1, 2, i)

This article reports the evaluation and comparison the electronic structure of Cu 2p and O 1s spectra, using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and the charge transfer multiplet calculation by the CTM4XAS (software). This research is relevant in the study of CuO - Cu2O and CuO nanofibers (NFs) that were synthesized with temperatures of 600 °C (CuO600) and 700 °C (CuO700), through the electrospinning method (EM). The NFs are analyzed with x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution-scanning electron transmission microscopy. The expected results are innovative because the sample exhibits multivalent states (Cu1+, Cu2+, Cui+) and the reproducibility of the stoichiometry Cu2.0O0.88, Cu2.0O2.73, and Cu2.0O0.9 , Cu1.0O1.76, with uncertainties in the fittings, 3.7282 x 10−5 eV and 4.05987 x 10−5 eV. This was possible by doing peak fittings with modern parameters. The NFs present mixtures of oxides and charge transfer generated by oxygen vacancies (Vo). [Display omitted] •CuO tenorite nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning method.•XPS was analyzed using CTM4XAS to determine the multiplet structure.•XRD was used to monitor the crystal deformation in CuO obtained at 700 °C.•Stoichiometric calculation using the topofactor method with a spherical geometry.