The Effect of Transient Power Ramp-Up on Structural and Optical Properties of CuO Thin Films Prepared by Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering

Publication Type

Journal Article

Name of Author

• Cyril C. F. Kumachang, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802 USAFollow
• Daniel I. Amune, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, KM 10 Airport Road, Galadimawa, P. M.B. 681, Garki, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
• Ivy M Asuo, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802 USA
• Dahiru Sanni, Department of Physics, Nile University of Nigeria, Plot 681, Cadastral Zone C-OO, Research & Institution Area Nigeria, Airport Rd, Jabi, Abuja, 900001 Nigeria
• Yusuf A. Olanrewaju, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, KM 10 Airport Road, Galadimawa, P. M.B. 681, Garki, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeri
• Nicole Doumit, LISITE Laboratory, ISEP, 10 Rue de Vanves, 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, Franc
• Richard Koech, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, KM 10 Airport Road, Galadimawa, P. M.B. 681, Garki, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
• Vitalis Anye, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, KM 10 Airport Road, Galadimawa, P. M.B. 681, Garki, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
• Esidor Ntsoenzok, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, KM 10 Airport Road, Galadimawa, P. M.B. 681, Garki, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
• Nutifafa Doumon, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802 USA

Publication Date (Issue Year)

2026

Journal Name

Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research

Abstract

Transition metal oxides have found application as charge transport materials (CTMs) in perovskite solar cell devices due to their better environmental stability and superior electronic properties compared to organic CTMs. Many researchers have used radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering to deposit inorganic CTMs on inorganic layers. However, such efforts on perovskites have been limited by the distortion of high-energy ions of the sputtering gas energized by the RF power and temperature. The ions may also distort the interface between transparent conducting oxides and the charge transport layers, thereby increasing optical scattering. Thus, the effect of ramp power during RF magnetron sputtering deposition on the structural and optical properties of copper oxide thin films is investigated. While the optical transmittance of the films decreases with increased RF power, it remains the same for all ramped power films; however, it has a similar profile as the highest RF power film. As the ramp power increases, the X-ray diffraction shows that the films become more polycrystalline with a monoclinic crystal structure. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy results reveal that the atomic concentration of copper slightly increases with the RF power, whereas oxygen concentration slightly decreases

Keywords

Transient Power Ramp-Up, Structural, Optical Properties, CuO Thin Films Prepared, Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering

Rsif Scholar Name

Daniel Amune

Rsif Scholar Nationality

Nigeria

Cohort

Cohort 3

Thematic Area

Minerals, Mining and Materials Engineering

Africa Host University (AHU)

African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Nigeria

Recommended Citation

Kumachang, C. C., Amune, D., Asuo, I., Sanni, D., Olanrewaju, Y., Doumit, N., Koech, R., Anye, V., Ntsoenzok, E., & Doumon, N. (2026). The Effect of Transient Power Ramp-Up on Structural and Optical Properties of CuO Thin Films Prepared by Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering. Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.202300258