CuO nanostructures grown by the SILAR method: Influence of Pb-doping on the morphological, structural and optical properties

CuO nanostructures with and without Pb were synthesized by the Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction method. The films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. Scanning electron microscopy results showed that the morphology of the film surface was changed from plate-like to coral-like nanostructures with increasing Pb concentration. The X-ray diffraction patterns showed the monoclinic crystal structure with preferential planes of (1¯11) and (1 1 1). Furthermore, ultraviolet-visible spectra showed that the band gap of the films was tailored by Pb doping.