Vertically aligned ZnO nanorods for photoelectrochemical water splitting application

In this present study, nucleation controlled vertically oriented Zinc Oxide nanorod (ZNR) array based Photoanodes was successfully synthesized on conductive substrate by hydrothermal method for Photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell. We have investigated the effect of ammonia during the synthesis on morphology of ZNR and its effect on current-voltage characteristics of PEC cell. Synthesized ZNR were subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Visible spectroscopy, Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDX) for microstructural characterization. Presence of single (002) peak in XRD pattern confirms vertical c-axis oriented growth of ZnO rods. FE-SEM images revealed that concentration of ammonia had marked effect on crystallization, morphology and density of ZnO rods. PEC properties were investigated by using ZnO rods as photoanode in three electrode cells under AM 1.5G illumination. Morphology and crystallization of ZnO rods had marked effect on current-voltage characteristics. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.