Features of the morphology of micro- and nanoporous copper and silver films synthesized by substitution reaction for photocatalytic application

The paper presents the results of an experimental investigation of the morphology of copper and silver thin films synthesized by the substitution reaction method. Silver films were synthesized by immersing polished substrates of copper (M1 brand) into silver nitrate solution. Copper films were synthesized by immersing substrates of iron (electrolytic iron brand) and also of iron with vacuum deposited tin film of 5 μm thick into copper vitriol solution. The morphology of synthesized films was analyzed by a scanning electron microscope. The research has shown that the metal films with the thickness of around 1 μm are formed 2 seconds after the reaction start point. The films consist of crystal micro- and nanodendrites. The silver films also contain crystalline plates of silver oxide with characteristic size up to 2 μm. With an increase of reaction time the metal layers are compacted. And minimal pore sizes in this case are 20 nm. The synthesized films can be used for the creation of semiconductor-metal micro- and nanostructures for photocatalytic water splitting. Such films can be also applied in chemical sensors and biosensors for surface enhancement of Raman scattering.