Nanocomposites of CuO with plasmonic metals (Au, Ag): design, synthesis, and photocatalytic applications.

Metal-semiconductor nanocomposites have been utilized in a multitude of applications in a wide array of fields, prompting substantial interest from different scientific sectors. Of particular interest are semiconductors paired with plasmonic metals due to the unique optical properties that arise from the individual interactions of these materials with light and the intercomponent movement of charge carriers in their heterostructure. This review focuses on the pairing of CuO semiconductor with strongly plasmonic metals, particularly Au and Ag.