Synthesis of ZnO nanostructures and their influence on photoelectrochemical response for solar driven water splitting to produce hydrogen

Sudhakar Shet, Heli Wang, Todd Deutsch, Nuggehalli Ravindra, Yanfa Yan, John Turner, Mowafak Al-Jassim

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

We have investigated the structural properties, optical absorption, and PEC responses for ZnO nanostructures. All the films were deposited on fluorine doped tin oxide coated glass. We found that the presence of N2 in the growth ambient help to promote the formation of aligned nanorods at high substrate temperature of 500°C, resulting in the significantly enhanced PEC response, compared to ZnO(Ar) films deposited in pure Ar gas ambient. A porous ZnO nanocoral structure synthesized using two step process provides a large surface area, superior light trapping, and an excellent pathway for carrier transport, resulted in a significantly increased PEC response compared to the compact ZnO thin films. Our results suggest that synthesis method can be used to produce desired properties of thin films and nanostructures may help to improve PEC performance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMaterials Science and Technology Conference and Exhibition 2010, MS and T'10
Pages2354-2364
Number of pages11
StatePublished - 2010
EventMaterials Science and Technology Conference and Exhibition 2010, MS and T'10 - Houston, TX, United States
Duration: Oct 17 2010Oct 21 2010

Publication series

NameMaterials Science and Technology Conference and Exhibition 2010, MS and T'10
Volume4

Other

OtherMaterials Science and Technology Conference and Exhibition 2010, MS and T'10
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityHouston, TX
Period10/17/1010/21/10

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Materials Science (miscellaneous)

Keywords

  • Band gap
  • Crystallinity
  • Gas ambient
  • N concentration
  • Nanocoral
  • Nanorod
  • Photoelectrochemical
  • RF power
  • Sputter
  • ZnO

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