The　Cu2O/AZO　heterojunction　solar　cells　were　successfully　constructed　by　synthesising　p-Cu2O　layer　upon　AZO　using　the　electrochemical　deposition　method.　The　p-Cu2O　nanostructures　with　different　grain　shape　and　preferred　crystal　orientation,　including　(100),　(110)　and　(111)　indicated　by　SEM　and　XRD,　were　obtained　by　controlling　electrodeposition　bath　pH.　The　J–V　characteristic　shows　that　the　performance　of　the　Cu2O/AZO　heterojunction　solar　cells　is　found　to　be　dependent　on　the　crystal　orientation　of　p-Cu2O.　Only　the　solar　cell　with　Cu2O　(111)　exhibits　well-defined　rectifying　behaviour　and　good　photoelectric　conversion　efficiency,　which　may　due　to　the　optimised　energy　band　structure　of　Cu2O　(111)/AZO　heterojunction　solar　cells.　Furthermore,　VOC　and　JSC　were　sharply　increased　by　further　optimising　energy　band　structure　through　inserting　the　intrinsic　ZnO　layer　between　the　Cu2O　(111)　and　AZO.　Therefore,　the　results　illustrated　above　may　offer　a　helpful　guidance　to　design　and　construct　the　high　performance　solar　cell.　©　2017　Institute　of　Materials,　Minerals　and　Mining　Published　by　Taylor　&　Francis　on　behalf　of　the　Institute.