Facile synthesis of ZnO/SnO2 hetero nanotubes with enhanced electrocatalytic property

• ZnO/SnO2 hetero nanotubes were fabricated by electrochemical and hydrothermal method.
• The morphologies of ZnO/SnO2 hierarchical nanostructures can be well tailored by adjusting the hydrothermal conditions.
• ZnO/SnO2 hetero nanotube structures can significantly enhance the oxygen evolution potential and lower the phenol oxidation potential.

ZnO/SnO2 hetero nanotubes were fabricated by electrodeposition of ZnO nanorod arrays followed by the hydrothermal growth of SnO2. The morphologies of ZnO/SnO2 hierarchical nanostructures can be well tailored by adjusting the reaction time and pH value in the hydrothermal process. Cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the electrocatalytic activity of the samples. The results show that ZnO/SnO2 hetero nanotubes with a high electroactive surface area can significantly enhance the oxygen evolution potential and lower the phenol oxidation potential (∼650 mV) in comparison with the Pt (Ag/AgCl)(∼1000 mV) electrode, SnO2 electrode (∼1400 mV) and ZnO nanorods electrode (∼880 mV). It suggests that such ZnO/SnO2 hetero nanotubes hold great potential in electrocatalytic oxidation process.

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