Non-stoichiometric cuprous oxide, Cu2O can be prepared in laboratory.

Question

Non-stoichiometric cuprous oxide, Cu2O can be prepared in laboratory.

Non-stoichiometric cuprous oxide, Cu₂O can be prepared in laboratory. In this oxide, copper to oxygen ratio is slightly less than 2:1. Can you account for the fact that this substance is a p-type semiconductor?

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Salim Ahmed Kawsar · Answer 1 · Feb 05, 2023 15:29:48

In the cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) prepared in the laboratory, copper to oxygen ratio is slightly less than 2:1. This means that the number of Cu⁺ ions is slightly less than twice the number of O²⁻ ions. This is because some Cu⁺ ions have been replaced by Cu²⁺ ions. Every Cu²⁺ ion replaces two Cu⁺ions, thereby creating holes. As a result, the substance conducts electricity with the help of these positive holes. Hence, the substance is a p-type semiconductor.

Salim Ahmed Kawsar · Answer 2 · Feb 05, 2023 15:29:48

The ratio less than 2:1 in Cu₂O shows that some cuprous (Cu⁺) ions have been replaced by cupric (Cu²⁺) ions. To maintain electrical neutrality, every two Cu⁺ ions will be replaced by one Cu²⁺ ion thereby creating a hole. As conduction will be due to presence of these positive holes, hence it is a p-type semiconductor.

Non-stoichiometric cuprous oxide, Cu2O can be prepared in laboratory.

2 Answers