Electro-optical and magnetic properties of monodispersed colloidal Cu2O nanoparticles

A facile synthesis of colloidal cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles has been reported via co-precipitation route. Crystalline structure/phase identification, surface morphology, particles size/shape were investigated through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy techniques, respectively. Transmission electron microscope investigations reveal that the synthesized nanoparticles are uniform and having spherical shape with average size of ∼6 nm. The optical properties were probed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Energy band gap studies of the Cu2O nanoparticles reveal the possibility of both, direct and indirect optical transitions. Magnetic properties of the synthesized nanoparticle have been measured through vibrating sample magnetometer technique and the obtained result shows that the synthesized nanoparticles posses weak ferromagnetic nature at room temperature. Electrochemical response studies of Cu2O/indium tin oxide electrode have been carried out using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It is observed that the electrode prepared using the colloidal Cu2O nanoparticle shows excellent selectivity and sensitivity for these measurements, which can further be utilized for an efficient electrochemical based biosensor applications.

► Ultrafine Cu2O nanoparticles have been synthesized via co-precipitation method.
► Nanoparticles are monodisperse in nature.
► Nanoparticles exhibit possibility of indirect and direct transitions both.
► Cu2O nanoparticles exhibit excellent electrochemical response.
► Nanoparticles may find a potential application in biosensor and optoelectronics.