Fabrication of 3-D ZnO/CN nanorods for photo-/electrocatalytic water splitting: An efficient morphology for charge carriers transportation

The present study is about the fabrication of an efficient photo-/electrocatalyst, prepared via in-situ hydrothermal coupling of ZnO with g-C 3 N 4 . The results prove this electrocatalyst as suitable band structure semiconductor. The crystalline nature and related morphological parameters are controlled by optimized hydrothermal and calcination temperatures conditions. A series of physicochemical characterization are applied to inquire the crystalline structure, surface morphology , optical capabilities and charge transportation properties. Results revealed that the sample acts as excellent electrocatalyst with OER current density at 10 mAcm −2 @ 335 mV and the HER at 100 mAcm −2 @ −225 mV. While upon illuminations its catalytic properties further enhance at OER 10 mAcm −2 @ 326 mV and for HER current density of 100 mAcm −2 @ −167 mV. It can be seen from the present study that g-C 3 N 4 play gigantic role in enhancing the catalytic property of ZnO and hence it leads to a relationship between hierarchical features and photo-/electrochemical activity for water splitting.