Investigations on the structural, electrical properties and conduction mechanism of CuO nanoflakes

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Copper oxide (CuO) nanostructures are of particular interest because of their interesting properties and promising applications in batteries, super capacitors, solar cells, gas sensors, bio sensors, nano fluids and catalysis. In Recent past, more efforts have been received to design materials with different properties which is dependent on morphology.  In this work cupric oxide nano flakes were prepared by surfactant assistant wet chemical method. Samples were synthesized using ethylene glycol as the surfactant and by changing the concentration of ethylene glycol by 0 M, 0.05 M, 0.1 M, and 0.2 M.  X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of as synthesized materials. Crystallite size and crystallographic parameters were calculated. Flakes like morphology of materials were elucidated by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Using Electrochemical Impedance spectroscopy, variation of real and imaginary part of impedance, electrical conductivity with frequency and temperature were also studied. It was observed that sample with 0.1 M surfactant has high conductivity when compared to other samples. It was noted that the particle size and electrical properties of Copper oxide nano flakes were affected by concentration of the surfactant. The Conduction mechanism of Copper oxide is discussed on the basis of Correlated Barrier Hopping (CBH) model.