University of Sussex
Browse
Lee+et+al_2017_Nanotechnology_10.1088_1361-6528_aa7c7c.pdf (1.56 MB)

Ultra rapid direct heating synthesis of ZnO nanorods with improved light trapping from stacked photoanodes for high efficiency photocatalytic water splitting

Download (1.56 MB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 07:06 authored by Wei Cheat Lee, Yuanxing Fang, Daniel Holt, Rong Qian, Zainab Taha Yassin Al-Abdullah, Qiao ChenQiao Chen
An ultra rapid growth method for vertically aligned ZnO nanorod (NR) thin films on metal meshes is developed using a direct heating synthesis (DHS) technique. A typical nanorod growth rate of 10 µm/hr was achieved. The effects of the applied heating powers and growth durations on the morphologies of ZnO nanostructures were examined. High density surface defects were formed on the ZnO NRs, which is responsible for slow charge recombination and high efficiency in the photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting process. The light absorption for a photoanode was significantly improved by light trapping using a 3D stacked metal mesh photoanode structure. With the internal reflection between the stacked photoanodes, the final light leakage is minimised. The light absorption in the stacked photoanode is improved without restricting the charge transportation. In comparison with a single mesh photoanode and a chemical bath deposition (CBD) grown flat photoanode, the PEC water splitting efficiency from the stacked photoanode was increased by a factor of 2.6 and 6.1 respectively.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Nanotechnology

ISSN

0957-4484

Publisher

Institute of Physics

Issue

35

Volume

28

Department affiliated with

  • Chemistry Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2017-07-10

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-08-01

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2017-07-10

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC