Microstructure, optical properties, and catalytic performance of Cu2O-modified ZnO nanorods prepared by electrodeposition

Cu2O-modified ZnO nanorods are prepared by a two-step electrodeposition method on ITO substrates, and the deposition time of Cu2O is 0, 1, 5, and 10 min, respectively. Cu2O particles are embedded in the interspaces of the ZnO nanorods, and the amounts of the Cu2O particles increase obviously when the deposition time lasts longer. The peaks corresponding to ZnO nanorods and Cu2O particles are detected from scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results. UV-vis absorption spectra measurements have shown the bandgaps of ZnO nanorods shift from 3.22 to 2.75 eV. The methyl orange (MO) concentration can be reduced to around 15% in 100 min with Cu2O electrodeposition time for 10 min.