Synthesis and microstructural studies of annealed Cu2O/CuxS bilayer as transparent electrode material for photovoltaic and energy storage devices

Cu₂O thin film and a transparent bilayer have been fabricated by electrodeposition method. The growths were obtained in potentiostatic mode with gradual degradation of anodic current. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) study showed that the bilayer is polycrystalline and it possesses mixture of different crystallite phases of copper oxides. Surface morphology of the films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM images revealed that the films were uniformly distributed and the starting material (Cu₂O) had cubical structure. Grains agglomeration and crystallinity were enhanced by annealing. Optical studies indicated that all the samples have direct allowed transition. Energy band gap of the bilayer film was reduced by annealing treatment thus corroborating quantum confinement upshot.