The study of photoelectrochemical water splitting by ZnO nanostructures and ZnO/Ag nanocomposites

Zinc oxide is an interesting material for the fabrication on its basis photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical cells. In this paper, the main results of the electrochemical deposition of two different morphologies — nanorods and nanosheets of zinc oxide onto transparent conductive substrate and their further modification by Ag nanoparticles are presented. Crystal, optical and morphological structures of synthesized coatings were investigated by XRD, PL and SEM methodologies. The influence of pristine ZnO nanostructures and ZnO/Ag nanocomposites on PEC process is shown. Photoelectrochemical activity of obtained materials is demonstrated on J-T curves.