Functionalization of Au Nanoparticles on ZnO Nanorods through Low-Temperature Synthesis

Abstract

Hybrid nanomaterials exhibit multi-functionalities, which is synergy or enhanced physical and optical properties over their single components with promising potentials for various applications in dye-sensitized solar cell and photocatalytic materials. In this present research, the Au nanoparticles were prepared at HAuCl4 concentration of 0.5 mM on ZnO nanorod templates and silicon wafer substrate by hydrothermal reaction process. The prepared samples were investigated the crystal structure, chemical composition and morphologies by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), respectively. The XRD results shown that ZnO was preferred orientation along the c-axis (002). The FE-SEM images indicated to the difference of size-Au NPs decorated on ZnO nanorods and silicon wafer. The relationship between the surface area and the size of Au NPs of the prepared samples was investigated and possible growing mechanism of Au NPs on ZnO nanorods templates will be discussed.