Obtaining Cu2O nanoparticles doped with Lanthanum, Magnesium and Manganese using a displacement reaction

Since cuprous oxide (Cu
2
O) has a lower band gap (2.17 eV) and a high optical absorption coefficient, it is considered an interesting material for photocatalyst applications. In fact, this semiconductor is promising as it can be used in photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications. Cuprous oxide nanoparticles were obtained by the modified chemical precipitation method. The samples obtained were doped with lanthanum (La), magnesium (Mg) and manganese (Mn) through modified displacement reactions. The doped and un-doped Cu
2
O nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray energy dispersive scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results confirmed the formation of crystalline nanoparticles of Cu
2
O with a cubic cuprite phase structure. The nanoparticles obtained have average diameters between 12 and 30 nm.