An overlapping ZnO nanowire photoanode for photoelectrochemical water splitting

In this paper, we fabricate a novel ZnO nanowires overlapping junction (ZnO NWS-OLJ) electrode via a facile and cheap solution chemical routine. ZnO nanowires overlap and touch each other during their growth, and form ZnO NWS-OLJ. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) examination indicate that the photocurrent density of the as-prepared ZnO NWS-OLJ electrode reaches 57 μA cm −2 , which is 2 times higher than that of the ZnO nanorods (ZnO NRD) vertical array electrode at a 0 V bias potential versus Ag/AgCl. The PEC performance of ZnO NWS-OLJ electrode could be further improved by decorating Au nanoparticles on ZnO NWS-OLJ.