A highly efficient TiO2@ZnO n-p-n heterojunction nanorod photocatalyst

Shell@core-nanostructured TiO2@ZnO n-p-n heterojunction nanorods with diameter of 30 nm were successfully fabricated via a hydrothermal method. The photodegradation rate of the TiO2@ZnO n-p-n nanorods evaluated by photodegrading methyl orange has been demonstrated to increase three times compared to that of wurtzite hexagonal ZnO. Anatase TiO2 and Ti2O3 grow along ZnO crystal lattices, which forms p-type Zn2+ doped Ti2O3 in the interface of TiO2/ZnO and therefore numerous n-p-n heterojunctions owing to the substitution of Ti3+ by Zn2+. Under the drive of inner electric field, the photogenerated electrons are both injected to the conduction band of Zn2+ doped Ti2O3 from conduction bands of ZnO and TiO2, which efficiently enhances the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and accelerates the transport of charges. The results suggest that TiO2@ZnO n-p-n heterojunction nanorods are very promising for enhancing the photocatalytic activity of photocatalysts.