Vertically aligned one-dimensional ZnO/V2O5 core-shell hetero-nanostructure for photoelectrochemical water splitting

摘要

The vertically aligned one-dimensional(1 D)core-shell structure can maximize the exposure and use of the functionally active surface while maintaining the geometric effects caused by the underlying structure.Herein,we have fabricated 1 D vertically aligned ZnO/V2O5 core-shell hetero-nanostructure nanorod arrays(NRs)for photoelectrochemical(PEC)water splitting.ZnO/V2O5 NRs were prepared through the hydrothermal growing of ZnO NRs and then radio frequency(RF)magnetron sputtering deposition of V2O5 for 300,600 and 900 s.The photocurrent density of ZnO/V2O5-based photoanodes was gradually increased with the sputtering time,reaching the maximum value of 1.21 m A/cm^2 at 1.23 V vs.reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE)for ZnO/V2O5-600,whereas for pure ZnO-based photoanode was 0.42 mA/cm^2.The incident photon to electron conversion efficiency(IPCE)of ZnO/V2O5-600 evaluated to be 82.3%which was 2.3 times higher than that of ZnO(36.4%).The improved PEC performance of ZnO/V2O5-600 is because the core-shell structure with a moderate thickness of the V2O5 layer has the extremely high carrier density,largest electrochemically active surface area(ECSA),largest carrier density,lowest charge recombination rate,and the longest lifetime of e-h pairs due to the formation of the staggered gap junction.This study provides an effective way to design and fabrication of hetero-nanostructures for highefficiency photoelectrodes.