Cathodic electrodeposition of nanoporous ZnO thin films from new electrochemical bath and their photoinduced hydrophilic properties

The cathodic electrodeposition of nanocrystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films from an aqueous zinc acetate containing electrochemical bath is reported. Scanning electron microscopic examination of the resultant films reveals the formation of nanoporous ZnO. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicates that the ZnO thin films deposited with crystallite sizes as small as 10 nm are possible with this method. The surface wettability of the electrodeposited ZnO thin films was also investigated. Reversible hydrophobicity to super-hydrophilicity transition was observed and nicely controlled by alternation of UV light irradiation and dark storage.