WO3–ZnO and CuO–ZnO nanocomposites as highly efficient photoanodes under visible light illumination

Abstract

We prepared ZnO nanocomposites with WO3 or CuO nanostructures to improve the photocatalytic performance of ZnO nanostructures. Characterization of the nanocomposites using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, UV–vis spectrometry and photoluminescence revealed the morphologies and wide light absorption range of the materials. The highest current densities of WO3/ZnO and CuO/ZnO nanocomposites were 1.28 mA cm−2 and 2.49 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V (versus a reversible hydrogen electrode) under AM 1.5 100 mW cm−2, which are ~1.2- and 3.5-fold greater than those of bare ZnO nanostructures, respectively. The easy fabrication process suggests that nanocomposites with narrow bandgap materials, such as WO3 and CuO, will improve the performance of electrochemical and optoelectrical devices such as dye-sensitized solar cells and biosensors.