Synthesis of copper and zinc oxides nanostructures by brass anodization in alkaline media

Copper and zinc oxides are routinely used in the manufacture of electronic devices due to their favorable band gap energies. In this work, synthesis of copper and zinc oxides by anodization of brass foil was performed in alkaline aqueous solution at room temperature. The range of independent anodization parameters investigated was as follows: sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) concentration (0.05-0.3 M/L), anodizing time (15-120 min) and voltage (3-24 V). Effects of additives such as ammonium chloride, ammonium fluoride and ammonium sulfate were investigated. Structural properties of the oxides film were studied with field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Anodizing of the brass foil in alkaline media resulted in the formation of copper and zinc oxide nanostructures (CuO, ZnO) with dimensions up to 100 nm. The nanostructures of both oxides were obtained in electrolytes containing 0.1 M NaOH at 12 V for 60 min and 0.2 M KOH at 6 V and for 60 min. Diverse morphologies were observed such as spherical, flower-like, porous, flake-like, pyramidal, polygonal and cubic in nano, submicron and micron scales in different conditions.