Alkaline vapor oxidation synthesis and electrocatalytic activity toward glucose oxidation of CuO/ZnO composite nanoarrays

CuO/ZnO nanocomposite materials have attracted widespread attention because of their scientific and technological importance as, for example, photocatalysts, gas and humidity sensors, catalysts for H-2 production and organic synthesis, and solar cells. High-temperature and/or complicated multistep processes are usually used to prepare these composites. Here we demonstrate a low-temperature and facile one-step synthesis of CuO nanoflowers/ZnO nanorods composite arrays via an alkaline vapor oxidation process. The CuO/ZnO composite nanoarrays show high electrocatalytic activity toward glucose oxidation. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.