Electrodeposition of quantum‐confined metal/semiconductor nanocomposites

Electrodepositiona s an approach to quantum confinement is the idea behind the work on nanocomposite films of Cu and Cu 2 O reported here. The phase of the film electrodeposited from an alkaline aqueous solution of copper(II) lactate depends on the cathodic current density used, varying from pure Cu 2 O (a p‐type semiconductor) to 98 mol‐% Cu, the color of the film changing correspondingly; the electrode potential oscilates spontaneously at fixed current density. It is shown that the Cu 2 O crystallites exhibit the optical properties of quantum dots.