CuO Nanoparticle Modified ZnO Nanorods with Improved Photocatalytic Activity

Cupric oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were grown on zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod (NR) arrays to form ZnO–CuO corn-like composites via a simple two step solution-based method. First, ZnO nanorods were grown on a glass substrate by the hydrothermal method. Afterwards, CuO crystals were photochemically deposited on ZnO NRs using ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation at room temperature. The density and size of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) on ZnO NRs can be controlled by the irradiation time of UV light. The structural and optical properties of ZnO–CuO nanocomposites were characterized by using various techniques such as UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction. ZnO–CuO nanocomposites show an excellent improvement in photocatalytic characteristics compared to bare ZnO NRs.