Sensor properties of nanostructured copper oxide films to ultraviolet radiation

The work is devoted to studying the sensory properties of nanocomposite structures formed by atmospheric annealing of copper films. It is demonstrated that annealing of copper films with a thickness of 50–100 nm at a temperature of 280 °C results in the formation of nanocomposite films consisting of a mixture of two oxides: CuO and Cu2O. The structures obtained in this way retain, or even increase, their dispersibility and exhibit sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation. It has been shown that the studied nanocomposites reversibly reduce their electrical resistance under ultraviolet irradiation; therefore, they can be used as sensor materials. Several mechanisms of photosensitivity have been proposed, among which the most likely involves partial decomposition of the CuO phase under the action of ultraviolet radiation.