Nanocomposite films of copper metal and cuprous oxide were electrodeposited at room temperature from an alkaline copper (II) lactate solution. The electrode potential oscillated spontaneously during constant-current deposition of the composites. The oscillations were periodic in a stirred solution, but became chaotic in unstirred solution. For a given current density the phase composition was a strong function of solution pH. As the pH was increased, the cuprous oxide content increased. At pH 12, no oscillations were observed, and pure cuprous oxide was deposited. At pH 9, the phase composition varied from pure cuprous oxide at current densities below 0.1 mA/cm~2 to 96 mole percent copper at 2.5 mA/cm~2.
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