Piezoelectricity-enhanced photoelectrochemistry synthesis of H2O2 on an Au nanoparticles modified p-type Sb-doped ZnO nanotubes array.

Abstract

A p-type Sb-doped ZnO nanorods (p-ZnOSb,NR) array was hydrothermally prepared on indium tin oxide (ITO) and then etched into a p-type Sb-doped ZnO nanotubes (p-ZnOSb,NT) array by hot alkali solution. Further photodeposition of Au nanoparticles (AuNP) yielded a novel AuNP/p-ZnOSb,NT/ITO photocathode. The green synthesis of H2O2 by piezoelectricity-enhanced photoelectrochemistry and oxygen reduction reaction was studied for the first time, giving a H2O2 yield of 15.2 μmol cm-2 h-1, a photocurrent density of -1.05 mA cm-2 and a Faraday efficiency of 79.0% on this photocathode.