A highly sensitive UV sensor composed of 2D NiO nanosheets and 1D ZnO nanorods fabricated by a hydrothermal process

•Hybrid structures composed of 1D ZnO and 2D NiO nanosheets were demonstrated.•The decrease of the trap-state emission and recombination of excitons was observed.•The hybrid structures showed over ten folds improved UV sensitivity due to the synergetic effects.

A highly sensitive UV sensor was fabricated using a low-cost, low temperature, and scalable solution-based process. The p–n heterojunction sensor composed of p-type two dimensional (2D) NiO nanosheets (NS) and n-type one dimensional (1D) ZnO nanorods (NRs) exhibited a highly increased UV response compared to 2D NiO NS or 1D ZnO NR alone. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra revealed a decrease of the trap-state emission and recombination of excitons in the NiO NS/ZnO NR structure, which could be responsible for the enhanced UV response.