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Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics

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01-12-2023

Influence of dysprosium-doped nanoparticles on the physico-chemical properties of spray-deposited CuO thin films for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

Authors: I. Hemmedi, N. Bitri, F. Harrathi, I. Ly

Published in: Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics | Issue 36/2023

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Abstract

Transparent conductive oxide thin films based on copper oxide (CuO) doped with dysprosium (Dy) at varying concentrations (3, 6, and 9 at.%) were elaborated via a simple and cost-effective spray pyrolysis method on glass substrates heated to 350 °C. The impact of Dy doping levels on the physical–chemical properties of the CuO thin films was investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that all films exhibited a monoclinic CuO structure with a preference for the (111) crystallographic plane. The average crystallite size (D) ranged from 16 to 25 nm, indicating the formation of nanocrystalline structures. Dy doping led to increased micro-strain and defect density in the films. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of the three vibrational phonon modes 1Ag, Bg₁ and Bg₂ of CuO, with characteristic peaks at 300, 350, and 632 cm⁻¹. Morphological analysis using FE-SEM depicted rough, granular surfaces with diminishing roughness upon Dy doping. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the CuO:Dy 9% exhibited the highest surface roughness, with an Rq of 53.51 nm and a Ra of 34.29 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) verified the presence of Cu, O, and Dy nanoparticles and established the influence of Dy concentration on the film's composition. The electrical resistivity of CuO:Dy thin films decreased with increasing Dy doping, reaching a minimum of 0.11 × 10³ Ω cm for CuO:Dy 9%. Moreover, films with reduced thickness displayed enhanced electrical conductivity. All sprayed films demonstrated high optical transparency (\(\sim\) 80%), while the optical bandgap decreased from 2.19 to 1.68 eV with rising Dy doping levels. Notably, Dy-doped CuO thin films exhibited promising photocatalytic activity, showcasing efficient methylene blue degradation under solar irradiation. CuO:Dy thin films, particularly the 9% Dy-doped variant, displayed exceptional photocatalytic efficiency (81.96%), marked by a superior kinetic rate constant of around 8.88 × 10^–3 min⁻¹. This study highlights the potential of Dy-doped CuO thin films in various applications, particularly as efficient and stable photocatalysts.

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Title: Influence of dysprosium-doped nanoparticles on the physico-chemical properties of spray-deposited CuO thin films for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue
Authors: I. Hemmedi
N. Bitri
F. Harrathi
I. Ly
Publication date: 01-12-2023
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics / Issue 36/2023
Print ISSN: 0957-4522
Electronic ISSN: 1573-482X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-023-11711-0

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