Article Title

Activating ZnO nanorod photoanodes in visible light by Cu ion implantation

Authors

Meng Wang, International Research Centre for Renewable Energy, State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi 710049, China
Feng Ren, School of Physics and Technology, Center for Ion Beam Application, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Guangxu Cai, School of Physics and Technology, Center for Ion Beam Application, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Yichao Liu, School of Physics and Technology, Center for Ion Beam Application, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Shaohua Shen, International Research Centre for Renewable Energy, State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi 710049, China
Liejin Guo, International Research Centre for Renewable Energy, State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi 710049, China

Keywords

Keywords ion implantation Cu ion doping ZnO nanorods photoanode water splitting

Abstract

Abstract Utilization of visible light is of crucial importance for exploiting efficient semiconductor catalysts for solar water splitting. In this study, an advanced ion implantation method was utilized to dope Cu ions into ZnO nanorod arrays for photoelectrochemical water splitting in visible light. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) results revealed that Cu+ together with a small amount of Cu2+ were highly dispersed within the ZnO nanorod arrays. The Cu ion doped ZnO nanorod arrays displayed extended optical absorption and enhanced photoelectrochemical performance under visible light illumination (λ > 420 nm). A considerable photocurrent density of 18 μA/cm2 at 0.8 V (vs. a saturated calomel electrode) was achieved, which was about 11 times higher than that of undoped ZnO nanorod arrays. This study proposes that ion implantation could be an effective approach for developing novel visible-light-driven photocatalytic materials for water splitting.

Graphical Abstract

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-013-0401-7

Publisher

Tsinghua University Press

Recommended Citation

Meng Wang,Feng Ren,Guangxu Cai,Yichao Liu,Shaohua Shen,Liejin Guo, Activating ZnO nanorod photoanodes in visible light by Cu ion implantation. NanoRes.2014, 7(3): 353–364