Growth and optical properties of antimony sulfide decorated ZnO nano-rod heterojunctions

• ZnO nano-rods decorated with antimony sulfide nano-particles have been prepared.
• The nano-particles cover well the top and side faces of hexagonal ZnO nano-rods.
• Raman spectra show transition of the nano-particles toward crystallinity at 200 °C.
• Optical studies show the quantum size effects of antimony sulfide nano-particles.

ZnO nano-rod arrays grown on Si substrate were decorated with antimony sulfide nano-particles using a low temperature chemical bath deposition technique. X-ray diffraction and SEM analysis confirmed the single phase wurtzite structure and c-axis orientation of the as grown ZnO nano-rod arrays with diameter around 250 nm and lengths greater than a few microns. SEM analysis shows the particle like growth of antimony sulfide on the top and side faces of hexagonal ZnO nano-rods. Optical properties support the evidence that antimony sulfide is in the form of nano-particles which show the quantum size effects. Though the crystalline structure of the antimony sulfide was not observed in XRD, Raman spectroscopy shows the existence of crystallinity at annealing temperature of 200 °C. This type of heterostructure is expected to be utilized in the next generation of photo-voltaic and photo-electrochemical devices.

ZnO nanorod arrays grown on Si substrate were decorated with antimony sulfide nanoparticles using a low temperature chemical bath deposition technique. X-ray diffraction and SEM analysis confirmed the single phase wurtzite structure and c-axis orientation of the as grown ZnO nanorod arrays with diameter around 250 nm and lengths greater than few microns. SEM analysis shows the particle like growth of the antimony-sulfide on the top and side faces of hexagonal ZnO nanorods. Optical properties support the evidence that the antimony-sulfide is in the form of nanoparticles which show the quantum size effect. Though the crystalline structure of the antimony-sulfide was not observed in XRD, Raman spectroscopy shows the existence of crystallinity at annealing temperature of 200 0C. This type of heterostructures is expected to be utilized in the next generation of photovoltaic and photo-electrochemical devices.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide