A Novel Method for the Growth of Cu2O/ZnO Heterojunctions

A novel two step electrochemical deposition method for the synthesis of ZnO/Cu2O heterojunctions is reported. ZnO nanorods were grown on seeded oxidized silicon substrates and were subsequently employed as working electrodes for the electrodeposition of Cu2O in the same aqueous formamide solution using Zn and Cu foils as counter-electrodes respectively. Single crystalline Cu2O particles grow on top of the single crystalline and vertical to the substrate ZnO nanorods. Varying the growth parameters different Cu2O morphologies can be obtained, ranging from isolated cube and truncated cube particles to a continuous layer.