Microstructure, optical properties, and catalytic performance of Cu(2)O-modified ZnO nanorods prepared by electrodeposition

Cu(2)O-modified ZnO nanorods are prepared by a two-step electrodeposition method on ITO substrates, and the deposition time of Cu(2)O is 0, 1, 5, and 10 min, respectively. Cu(2)O particles are embedded in the interspaces of the ZnO nanorods, and the amounts of the Cu(2)O particles increase obviously when the deposition time lasts longer. The peaks corresponding to ZnO nanorods and Cu(2)O particles are detected from scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results. UV-vis absorption spectra measurements have shown the bandgaps of ZnO nanorods shift from 3.22 to 2.75 eV. The methyl orange (MO) concentration can be reduced to around 15% in 100 min with Cu(2)O electrodeposition time for 10 min.