Controllable Synthesis of ZnO Nanorod-nanosheets Hierarchical Nanostructure on a Stainless Steel Mesh Via A Facile Hydrothermal Growth

Shibu Zhu,Zuowan Zhou,Hong Cui,Xiaohu Zhang,Jingpeng Zhao,M Jawaid,El-R Kenawy

doi:10.1051/matecconf/20166702007

Abstract

ZnO nanorods-nanosheets (NR-NS) hierarchical nanostructure consisted of long nanorod and thin nanosheet branches have been built on a stainless steel mesh via a two-step hydrothermal growth process. The related structures and morphologies of the as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The XRD results confirmed that the obtained samples were wurtzite hexagonal structured ZnO. The FE-SEM observations showed that the smooth surfaces of nanorods were covered by nanosheets, resulting in the enhancement of internal surface area. It was found that trisodium citrate played a crucial role in the formation of ZnO NR-NS hierarchical nanostructures, and accordingly, the rational growth mechanism was suggested.

Highlights

To date, due to the increasing demand for energy and consumption of fossil fuels, finding new energy sources has steadily grown
The stainless steel mesh supported ZnO NR-NS hierarchical nanostructure possessed large surface area, and it was expected to use as a photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) or immobilized photocatalysts with the enhancement of related performance
The ZnO NR-NS hierarchical nanostructure on the stainless steel mesh was synthesized by means of a two-step hydrothermal growth

Summary

Introduction

Due to the increasing demand for energy and consumption of fossil fuels, finding new energy sources has steadily grown. ZnO with one dimensional (1-D) structures, such as nanowires[3], nanograss [4] and nanotubes [5], have been built for improving conversion efficiency of DSSCs because of their superior electron mobility This kind of DSSCs is commonly based on a rigid FTO or ITO glass substrate, which restricts its adaptability during transportation, installation and flexible application. The challenge in fabricating stainless steel mesh based Àexible DSSCs lies in the successful construction of a well-de¿ned semiconductor oxide on round-like wires to achieve desirable performances. The stainless steel mesh supported ZnO NR-NS hierarchical nanostructure possessed large surface area, and it was expected to use as a photoanode for DSSCs or immobilized photocatalysts with the enhancement of related performance

Synthesis of ZnO nanorod-nanosheet hierarchical nanostructure

Characterization

Results and Discussion

Conclusion