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Surface morphology, electrochemical and electrical performances of ZnO thin films sensitized with Ag nanoparticles by UV irradiation

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Abstract

Pure zinc oxide and Ag/ZnO thin films were prepared via two step method. The crystal structure, topography, chemical composition and optical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrophotometer and laser micro-Raman spectrometer. XRD, FE-SEM and XPS results indicated that Ag nanoparticles were successfully deposited on the zinc oxide nanorods. Ag nanoparticles on the zinc oxide nanorods would extend the photoabsorption region and reduce the electron transition from CB to VB. The photoelectrochemical performances of ZnO thin film could be effectively enhanced by moderate Ag nanoparticles modification. Under sunlight illumination, the photocurrent of the Ag-0.5/ZnO electrode was about three times as large as that of the zinc oxide electrode. The charge transfer process for the Ag/ZnO electrode under sunlight illumination has been discussed. With the increase of Ag content, the resistivity of the sample decreases sharply.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51701001, 51102072, 51472003, 51572002), Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Higher Education Institution of China (Nos. KJ2015ZD32, KJ2017A924, KJ2017A002), Doctor Scientific Research Fund of Anhui University (No. J01001927), Youth Core Teacher Fund of Anhui University (No. J01005111) and Foundation of Co-operative Innovation Research Center for Weak Signal-Detecting Materials and Devices Integration Anhui University (Nos. Y01008411, WRXH201703).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics and Materials Engineering, Hefei Normal University, Hefei, 230601, China

    Congrong Wang, Zhengyu Yang, Jianguo Lv, Qianqian Zhu, Jingwen Jiang, Min Zhao & Wenhao Wang

  2. Co-operative Innovation Research Center for Weak Signal-Detecting Materials and Devices Integration, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China

    Jianguo Lv & Min Zhao

  3. National Laboratory for Infrared Physics, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200083, China

    Xiaoshuang Chen

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  1. Congrong Wang
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Wang, C., Yang, Z., Lv, J. et al. Surface morphology, electrochemical and electrical performances of ZnO thin films sensitized with Ag nanoparticles by UV irradiation. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 30, 9798–9805 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-019-01316-x

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