Preparation of three-dimensional ordered macroporous Cu2O film through photonic crystal template-assisted electrodeposition method

Three-dimensional ordered macroporous (3DOM) Cu2O film was prepared on indium-tin-oxide (ITO) glass using photonic crystal template-assisted electrodeposition approach. The technological process involved the following steps: preparation of three-dimensional (3D) photonic crystal template, potentiostatic electrodeposition of Cu2O into the template, and template removal. 210 nm polystyrene (PS) spheres were used to prepare the 3D photonic crystal template by means of a vertical deposition technique on ITO glass. A two-electrode cell was used for electrodeposition, in which the anode was graphite and the cathode was PS-coated ITO glass. The electrodeposition solution consisted of 0.1 M sodium acetate and 0.02 M copper acetate and was acidified at pH 5.7. Via electrodeposition, the interstitial space of the packed PS photonic crystal template was filled with Cu2O. After removal of the PS photonic crystal template by immersing in tetrahydrofuran solution, 3DOM Cu2O film with a homogeneous area of 20 x 10 mm(2) was obtained. The film was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopic (FE-SEM) and X-ray diffraction. The results indicated that the as-prepared Cu2O film was of high purity, good homogeneity, and a well-ordered macroporous structure.