Effect of hydrothermal growth time on ZnO nanorod arrays photoelectrode performance

• Main Authors: Holi, Araa Mebdir, Zainal, Zulkarnain, Talib, Zainal Abidin, Lim, Hong Ngee, Yap, Chi Chin, Chang, Sook Keng, Ayal, Asmaa Kadim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2016
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54025/1/Effect%20of%20hydrothermal%20growth%20time%20on%20ZnO%20nanorod%20arrays%20photoelectrode%20performance.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/54025/; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0030402616310233
• Institution: Universiti Putra Malaysia

High density and vertically aligned zinc oxide nanorod arrays (ZnO NRs) have been prepared directly on indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) substrates via two-steps preparation: sol-gel spin coating and hydrothermal process. The nanostructured ZnO was characterized for its morphology, crystalline structure and optical properties by using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffractometry, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy respectively. In addition, the photoeletrochemical (PEC) properties were investigated through photocurrent measurements. The ZnO NRs/ITO had wurtzite-structured (hexagonal) ZnO and preferred growth along (0001) direction. When the growth time was 4 h, ZnO NRs/ITO showed impressive photoresponse. The PEC analysis verified that the ZnO NRs gave better photocurrent response and photoconversion efficiency with approximately 42 times greater than seed layer.