Effect of the Seed Layer on the Growth and Charge Transfer Behavior of Zn<sub>2</sub>SnO<sub>4</sub> Nanorods in Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Lokanath Mohapatra, Ajay Kushwaha
Abstract
The growth of Zn 2 SnO 4 nanorods on two differently prepared ZnO seed layers is demonstrated using a hydrothermal approach. The ZnO seed layers are prepared using dip-coating and electrodeposition techniques. The grown Zn 2 SnO 4 nanorods are in the cubic phase. However, the different seed layers result in alternation in the diameter of grown Zn 2 SnO 4 nanorods. The photocurrent of Zn 2 SnO 4 nanorods grown on an electrodeposited ZnO seed layer is ∼4.5 times larger than that of Zn 2 SnO 4 grown on a dip-coated ZnO seed layer. The Nyquist plots of Zn 2 SnO 4 nanorods on the electrodeposited ZnO seed layer result in a lower charge transfer resistance ( R ct = 37.7 Ω) and a lower bulk resistance ( R bulk = 64 kΩ), improving the charge transport properties. The change in diameter of Zn 2 SnO 4 nanorods significantly alters the charge transfer behavior. The calculated charge injection efficiency did not exhibit a significant change. However, there was a 1.6-fold enhancement observed in the charge separation efficiency for Zn 2 SnO 4 when grown on an electrodeposited seed layer.