Ni and p-Cu2O Nanocubes with a Small Size Distribution by Templated Electrodeposition and Their Characterization by Photocurrent Measurement

A method for the reproducible formation of Ni and Cu2O nanocubes with dimensions of 200–500 nm and a small size distribution is introduced. For this, the well-known templated electrodeposition technique was extended to cubic PMMA templates made by nanoimprint lithography. When making cubic templates in larger quantities, this method has the potential to become simple and cost-effective. This method was successfully used for the formation of Ni and p-Cu2O nanocubes as well as for the formation of segmented nanobars containing both phases. The lateral dimensions of the nanocubes exactly resembled the dimensions of the template, and the height could be varied by adjusting the deposition time. Nanocubes formed via this method can remain attached to the substrate or can be dispersed in solution. p-Cu2O is considered to be one of the most promising photocathode materials for solar water splitting. It is demonstrated that the activity of the p-Cu2O nanocubes for photocatalytic water splitting can be measured, and it was found that the nanocube morphology enhances the photocatalytic activity compared to thin films.