ZnO nanorods/ZnSe heteronanostructure arrays with a tunable microstructure of ZnSe shell for visible light photocatalysis†
Abstract
The surface modification of semiconductors is an important strategy for tuning solar-driven photocatalytic activity. Herein, ZnO nanorods/ZnSe heteronanostructure arrays with a tunable microstructure of the ZnSe shell, with a high visible light photocatalytic activity, are produced by liquid chemical conversion using ZnO nanorods arrays on a zinc foil. By varying the ammonia concentration, the secondary ZnSe shell can be formed of nanoparticles, nanorods and nanosheets, engineered by the oriented attachment of small ZnSe nanoparticles. By virtue of the synergistic advantages of the enhanced visible light adsorption capability and the effective separation of electron–hole pairs obtained by coupling ZnO nanorods with ZnSe nanostructures, the ZnO nanorods/ZnSe heteronanostructure arrays exhibit high visible light driven photocatalytic activities as well as shell microstructure dependent photocatalytic performances.