Extended photoresponse of ZnO/CdS core/shell nanorods to solar radiation and related mechanisms

• The optical properties of ZnO/CdS core/shell nanorods are studied.
• The optical properties are featured with heterostructures composed from ZnO and CdS.
• The optical properties are dependent on shell thickness and core–shell structure.
• ZnO/CdS core/shell nanorods present excellent photoresponse to solar radiation.
• The optical properties reveal efficient charge separation in ZnO/CdS nanorods.

We report the study on the influences of shell thickness and core–shell structure on the optical properties of ZnO/CdS core/shell nanorods (NRs) for an elucidation of the mechanisms responsible for the extended photoresponse of ZnO/CdS core/shell NRs to solar radiation. Well aligned ZnO/CdS core/shell NRs were fabricated on indium tin oxide substrates using hydrothermally grown ZnO NRs as the cores and pulsed laser deposited CdS coatings as the shells. The sample structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction and Raman backscattering spectroscopy, revealing the wurtzite structure of both the ZnO cores and CdS shells, and the improvement in the structure after annealing. The optical properties were studied through optical transmittance, absorbance and photoluminescence measurements, showing the optical properties featured with type-II heterogeneous nanostructures constructed from ZnO and CdS. The results provide a support that the optical properties of the CdS covered ZnO NRs are attributed to the suppressed radiative recombination of photogenerated carriers due to the efficient spatial separation of electrons and holes in the nanosized ZnO–CdS heterostructures.