Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering (한국표면공학회지)

The Korean Institute of Surface Engineering (한국표면공학회)
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Photoelectrochemical Properties of a Vertically Aligned Zinc Oxide Nanorod Photoelectrode

수직으로 정렬된 산화아연 나노막대 광전극의 광전기화학적 특성

  • Park, Jong-Hyun (Department of Matetials Science and Engineering, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Kim, Hyojin (Department of Matetials Science and Engineering, Chungnam National University)
  • 박종현 (충남대학교 신소재공학과) ;
  • 김효진 (충남대학교 신소재공학과)
  • Received : 2018.08.11
  • Accepted : 2018.08.30
  • Published : 2018.08.31
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Abstract

We report on the fabrication and photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of a ZnO nanorod array structure as an efficient photoelectrode for hydrogen production from sunlight-driven water splitting. Vertically aligned ZnO nanorods were grown on an indium-tin-oxide-coated glass substrate via seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method with the use of a ZnO nanoparticle seed layer, which was formed by thermally oxidizing a sputtered Zn metal thin film. The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized ZnO nanorods were examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, as well as Raman scattering. The PEC properties of the fabricated ZnO nanorod photoelectrode were evaluated by photocurrent conversion efficiency measurements under white light illumination. From the observed PEC current density versus voltage (J-V) behavior, the vertically aligned ZnO nanorod photoelectrode was found to exhibit a negligible dark current and high photocurrent density, e.g., $0.65mA/cm^2$ at 0.8 V vs Ag/AgCl in a 1 mM $Na_2SO_4$ electrolyte. In particular, a significant PEC performance was observed even at an applied bias of 0 V vs Ag/AgCl, which made the device self-powered.

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References

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