Cu2O nanoparticles sensitized ZnO nanorod arrays: Electrochemical synthesis and photocatalytic properties

In this study, the Cu2O nanoparticles (NPs) sensitized ZnO nanorod arrays were prepared on the ITO-coated glass substrates via a two-step electrodeposition process. The morphologies, compositions and structures of the as-prepared products were characterized in detail. The single-crystalline ZnO nanorods are about 80 nm in diameter and 2 mu m in length, and the Cu2O NPs with diameters of 5-20 nm are uniformly distributed on the surface of the nanorods. It was found that the as-prepared Cu2O NPs sensitized ZnO nanorod arrays showed a significant antibacterial activity under the simulated sunlight illumination (AM 1.5). Furthermore, the Cu2O NPs sensitized ZnO nanorod arrays can be easily recycled without obvious decay in the photocatalytic antibacterial performance. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.