Piezoelectricity-enhanced photoelectrochemistry synthesis of H2O2 on an Au nanoparticles modified p-type Sb-doped ZnO nanotubes array

Abstract

A p-type Sb-doped ZnO nanorods (p-ZnO_Sb,NR) array was hydrothermally prepared on indium tin oxide (ITO) and then etched into a p-type Sb-doped ZnO nanotubes (p-ZnO_Sb,NT) array by hot alkali solution. Further photodeposition of Au nanoparticles (Au_NP) yielded a novel Au_NP/p-ZnO_Sb,NT/ITO photocathode. The green synthesis of H₂O₂ by piezoelectricity-enhanced photoelectrochemistry and oxygen reduction reaction was studied for the first time, giving a H₂O₂ yield of 15.2 μmol cm⁻² h⁻¹, a photocurrent density of −1.05 mA cm⁻² and a Faraday efficiency of 79.0% on this photocathode.