Preparation of nanostructured ZnO nanorods in a hydrothermal–electrochemical process

An array of ZnO nanorods, each nanorod being covered with a shell of porous ZnO was prepared in two steps by hydrothermal–electrochemical processes. The growth of ZnO nanorods was achieved in a zinc nitrate and hexamethylenetetramine aqueous solution on fluorine-doped tin oxide film. The porous ZnO shell was grown from a similar solution in the presence of eosin Y as nanostructuring agent. A dye-sensitized solar cell was assembled using as photoanode an eosin Y sensitized ZnO nanorod/shell layer.