Abstract
The influences of the Au- and Pt-precoated layers on ZnO nanorod growth have been investigated using the pulsed current electrodeposition method. Enhancement of the densities of the ZnO nanorod arrays is achieved using both metal-coated indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates whereas more significant improvement is obtained using the Au-precoated substrates. Tafel-plot analyses for the reaction of O H- formation by NO3- and H2O, which is a crucial step for the electrodeposition of ZnO using Zn (NO 3)2 electrolyte reveal that O H- formation through this reaction occurs in the limiting-current region at the Au/ITO substrate in the ZnO nucleation stage while the side reaction of H2 formation also takes place at the Pt/ITO and the bare ITO substrates under the same pulse current density in this study. We suggest that the low-density ZnO nanorods formed on the Pt-precoated and the bare ITO substrates are ascribed to the formation of H2 which would influence [O H-] on the surface. Because of an appropriate potential build up at the Au/ITO substrate, a high [O H-] exists on the surface of the Au/ITO substrate without being disturbed by H 2 significantly, resulting in high-density ZnO nanorods deposited on the Au/ITO substrates.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | D771-D776 |
Journal | Journal of the Electrochemical Society |
Volume | 155 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Chemistry