Growth of platelet-structured CuAlO2 thin film on CuAl alloy by molten salt electrolysis method

Herein, we report a novel synthesis procedure of CuAlO2 thin film by applying molten salt electrolysis method on a CuAl alloy electrode. The CuAlO2 thin film was directly prepared using CuAl alloy as Cu and Al sources by electrolysis in molten potassium cryolite system (CR = 1.3) at 700 °C for 10 h with a current density of 0.5 A/cm2. The as-prepared CuAlO2 film was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The results indicate that the rhombohedra structural CuAlO2 film has platelet-like structures with particle size of 2–10 μm and the membrane thickness is ~ 75 μm. Moreover, the reaction mechanism for the as-synthesized CuAlO2 thin film is proposed.

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► CuAlO2 is prepared by molten salt electrolysis on a CuAl alloy electrode.
► The as-prepared phase pure CuAlO2 exhibited crystalline in a rhombohedra structure.
► The reaction mechanism for the as-synthesized CuAlO2 thin film is proposed.