ZnO Nanorod Arrays Research Articles

Enhanced Performance of Particulate Oxynitride Photoanodes by Electron‐Collecting‐Oxide Array Insertion for Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation

AbstractThe collection of photogenerated electrons is a bottleneck to the photoelectrochemical performance of particulate photoanodes. In this work, the electron‐conducting array insertion strategy is applied for the assembly of LaTiO2N and SrNbO2N particulate photoanodes, and the candidates of conductive arrays are expanded from rigid vertically grown ZnO nanorod arrays to multi‐directionally grown ZnO nanoparticle arrays. ZnO nanorod arrays and ZnO nanoparticle arrays were inserted via electrodepositing ZnO from Zn(NO3)2 aqueous solution and n‐butanolic solution, respectively. By inserting a ZnO nanoparticle array, the performance of the assembled LaTiO2N micron particulate photoanodes is improved by 2 orders of magnitude compared to the uninserted one, and the photocurrent at 1.23 VRHE reaches 4.53 mA cm−2, slightly higher than 4.03 mA cm−2 (of the one assembled with a ZnO nanorod array). On the other hand, the performance of SrNbO2N hundred‐nanometer particulate photoanodes assembled with ZnO nanoarrays are 6–11 times of the uninserted one, and the photocurrent at 1.23 VRHE of the one assembled with a ZnO nanoparticle array reaches 1.88 mA cm−2, significantly higher than 0.97 mA cm−2 (of the one assembled with a ZnO nanorod array).

Selective Synthesis of ZnO Nanorods on Graphene for Solar Cell Applications

In this study, we achieved the selective growth of spatially ordered ZnO nanorods (NRs) in large scale with varying diameters and lengths on graphene pre-coated glass surfaces, resulting in the manufacture of a third-generation core-shell Cu2ZnSnS4(CZTS) solar cell. Using a combination of hydrothermal technique and nanosphere lithography, ZnO NR arrays with different diameters and lengths were synthesized on single and bilayer graphene grown on copper foils and transferred to glass substrates via the PMMA-assisted transfer technique. The Langmuir-Blodgett method facilitated the transfer of polystyrene nanospheres as a single layer onto the ZnO seed layer. It was found that the morphology of the ZnO seed layer, crucial for NR synthesis on graphene, significantly influenced the quality of the mono-layer nanosphere mask. Adjustable nanospheres via O2 plasma treatment were used to synthesize spatially ordered ZnO NR arrays. To reduce defect density at the core (ZnO NR) and shell (CdS/CZTS) interfaces, ZnO NRs were coated with a thin TiO2 layer before applying the CZTS absorber layer. The monophase kesterite CZTS absorber layer was successfully applied to ZnO NRs synthesized on graphene through thermal evaporation of polycrystalline CZTS powder. Prototype solar cells (Glass/Graphene/ZnO-NRs/TiO2/CdS/CZTS/Ag) were constructed to demonstrate the application of selectively grown spatially ordered ZnO NRs on graphene layers in a core-shell architecture. A second solar cell, using pristine ZnO NRs, was also fabricated to compare their performances. For the TiO2-passivized ZnO NR solar cell, Voc, Jsc, FF, and efficiency were 0.38V, 20mA/cm², 26%, and 1.9%, respectively, compared to 0.32V, 11mA/cm², 24%, and 0.84% for the pristine ZnO NRs based cell, highlighting the significant performance improvement due to TiO2 passivation.

High-performance ZnO nanorod arrays UV photodetectors enabled by biosynthetic pyomelanin as carrier transport layers

High-performance ZnO nanorod arrays UV photodetectors enabled by biosynthetic pyomelanin as carrier transport layers

Decoration of ZnO Nanorod Arrays with Heterojunction of Graphene Quantum Dots and MoS2 Nanoparticles for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

Decoration of ZnO Nanorod Arrays with Heterojunction of Graphene Quantum Dots and MoS₂ Nanoparticles for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

Bias Selectable Dual Band Detectors Based on Vertically Aligned In2S3‐coated ZnO Nanorod Arrays Grown on p‐GaN

Herein, we report vertically aligned In2S3 coated ZnO nanotube arrays deposited on p‐GaN substrate by wet chemical method. The fabricated device based on In2S3/ZnO/p‐GaN heterostucture structure displays an enhanced photoresponse with self‐driven operation. The device based on ZnO/p‐GaN structure coupling with In2S3 nanoparticles exhibits bias selectable photodetection by detecting UV and UV/visible light through bias voltage modulation. This strategy can benefit to fabricate broadband photodetector based on ZnO/GaN structure.

ZnO nanorod arrays for gas sensor application growing via hydrothermal technique: effect of metal oxide decoration

ZnO nanorod arrays for gas sensor application growing via hydrothermal technique: effect of metal oxide decoration

Characteristics of Piezoelectric Nanogenerators Based on Cr-Doped ZnO Nanorods for NO Gas Sensing

Abstract In this investigation, chromium-doped ZnO nanorod (NR) arrays were grown on ITO/PET substrates using a hydrothermal method. Subsequently, self-powered gas sensors based on piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) were fabricated and characterized. The chromium doping concentration in the ZnO NRs was estimated to be 0.26 at% measured by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Additionally, transmission electron microscope (TEM) results revealed that the as-grown ZnO NRs exhibited a hexagonal wurtzite structure. During the device fabrication process, the top electrode patterns were defined through laser engraving, and silver thin films were deposited on the ITO-PET substrates using the RF-sputtering technique. The piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) were composed of the silver top electrodes and the bottom of chromium-doped ZnO NRs. A specialized impacting system has been employed to drive the fabricated PENGs with a fixed frequency. By the doping concentration of 0.5 mM chromium nitrate, it can be found that the output voltages of the PENG were measured at 1.447 V and 2.323 V respectively, without and with introducing 100 ppm of nitric oxide (NO). Clearly, such a PENG device exhibits an excellent self-powered characteristic and demonstrates a good sensitivity to NO gas.

Preparation and enhanced photoelectric properties of ZnO/ZnSe nanorods arrays composites

ZnO nanorod arrays were prepared using the sol-gel method and hydrothermal method, and ZnO/ZnSe nanorod arrays composites were fabricated using an improved CIRR (Chemical Infiltration and Reaction at Room Temperature) method. The samples have been characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), etc. The results show that the dark current of the ZnO nanorod arrays photoelectric device is 1.79 × 10−5 A, the photocurrent of which is 3.33 × 10−3 A, and the photocurrent response of which is 186. The current of the ZnO nanorod arrays photoelectric device does not drop sharply, and the photoelectric response and recovery process are slow, which shows the appearance of photoconductive relaxation phenomenon. The dark current of the ZnO/ZnSe nanorod arrays composite photoelectric device was 3.61 × 10−7 A, the photocurrent of which was 4.39 × 10−4 A, and the photocurrent response of which was 1216. This may be because the photogenerated electrons and holes can be quickly separated at the heterojunction interface, which provides a strong basis for optimizing the design of optoelectronic devices.

Interference enhanced SPR-mediated visible-light responsive photocatalysis of periodically ordered ZnO nanorod arrays decorated with Au nanoparticles

Periodically ordered ZnO nanorod arrays were epitaxially grown on GaN(0001) substrates by polystyrene (PS) nanosphere lithography combined with following hydrothermal growth. The periodicity of ZnO nanorod arrays was varied by choosing PS nanospheres of different diameters. Then Au nanoparticles (NPs) were deposited on the ZnO nanorods to form Au–ZnO nanorod arrays samples. The PATP-to-DMAB model reaction was applied to detect the influence of ZnO nanorods periodicity on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-mediated photocatalytic performance of Au–ZnO nanorod arrays samples under 633 nm irradiation. The Au–ZnO nanorod array sample of 800 period presented inferior photocatalytic activities relative to those of individual Au NPs. However, the photocatalytic activities on the Au–ZnO nanorod array sample of 500 nm period were superior relative to those of individual Au NPs. The surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) of plasmonic NPs can change the propagation path of incident light to vertical direction after scattering on them. The Au–ZnO nanorod array sample of 500 nm period possessed the distance between neighbor ZnO rods smaller than the wavelength of irradiation light, and thus the scattered light interfered with each other after the incident light was scattered by the Au NPs on the neighbor ZnO rods. Then the electric field (E-field) intensities near Au NPs were elevated due to the interference effect. Since the SPR-mediated photocatalytic activity is proportional to the square value of local E-field intensity (E2), thus the photocatalytic activities on Au NPs were enhanced. This work might provide a new route to elevate SPR-mediated photocatalytic performance based on the deposition of plasmonic metals on periodically ordered arrays.

Unveiling the importance of controllable growth of c-axis oriented Sn-doped ZnO nanorod arrays: towards humidity sensing applications

In this study, tin (Sn)-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod arrays (SZO) were prepared using a sonication assisted sol-gel immersion method, with the growth of the nanorod arrays controlled by varying the immersion time in the precursor material. Morphology images taken using a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) demonstrated an enlargement of the average diameter of the nanorod arrays from 55 nm at 5 min immersion to 122 nm at 200 min immersion. The cross-sectional and surface elemental analysis showed that the sample immersed for 60 min has the highest detection of Sn, with a bulk concentration of 1.8 at.% and surface concentration of 1 at.%. Interestingly, we noticed that Sn is not exist on the surface of 200 min immersion, indicating the depletion of the Sn precursor due to the prolongation of the immersion time. From the current voltage (I-V) analysis, 60 min immersion sample generated the lowest thin film resistivity, which engendered the best humidity sensitivity of 4.05. This study demonstrated the significant importance of optimizing the immersion or growth time for doped 1-D nanostructures to obtain the best humidity sensing performance.

Hybrid zinc oxide nanocoating on titanium implants: Controlled drug release for enhanced antibacterial and osteogenic performance in infectious conditions

Implant-associated bacterial infections are a primary cause of complications in orthopedic implants, and localized drug delivery represents an effective mitigation strategy. Drawing inspiration from the morphology of desiccated soil, our group has developed an advanced drug-delivery system augmented onto titanium (Ti) plates. This system integrates zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod arrays with a vancomycin drug layer along with a protective Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) coating. The binding between the ZnO nanorods and the drug results in attached drug blocks, isolated by desiccation-like cracks, which are then encapsulated by PLGA to enable sustained drug release. Additionally, the release of zinc ions and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from the ZnO nanorods enhance the antibacterial efficacy. The antibacterial properties of ZnO nanorod-drug-PLGA system have been validated through both in vitro and in vivo studies. Comprehensive investigations were conducted on the impact of bacterial infections on bone defect regeneration and the role of this drug-delivery system in the healing process. Furthermore, the local immune response was analyzed and the immunomodulatory function of the system was demonstrated. Overall, the findings underscore the superior performance of the ZnO nanorod-drug-PLGA system as an efficient and safe approach to combat implant-associated bacterial infections. Statement of significanceImplant-associated bacterial infections pose a significant clinical challenge, particularly in orthopedic procedures. To address this, we developed an innovative ZnO nanorod-drug-PLGA system for local antibiotic delivery on conventional titanium implants. This system is biodegradable and features a unique desiccation-like structure that enables sustained drug release, along with the active substances released from the ZnO nanorods. In a rat calvarial defect model challenged with S. aureus, our system demonstrated remarkable antibacterial efficacy, significantly enhanced bone defect regeneration, and exhibited local immunomodulatory effects that support both infection control and osteogenesis. These breakthrough findings highlight the substantial clinical potential of this novel drug delivery system and introduce a transformative coating strategy to enhance the functionality of traditional metallic biomaterials.

One-Dimensional ZnO Nanorod Array Grown on Ag Nanowire Mesh/ZnO Composite Seed Layer for H2 Gas Sensing and UV Detection Applications.

Photodetectors and gas sensors are vital in modern technology, spanning from environmental monitoring to biomedical diagnostics. This paper explores the UV detection and gas sensing properties of a zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod array (ZNA) grown on silver nanowire mesh (AgNM) using a hydrothermal method. We examined the impact of different zinc acetate precursor concentrations on their properties. Results show the AgNM forms a network with high transparency (79%) and low sheet resistance (7.23 Ω/□). A sol-gel ZnO thin film was coated on this mesh, providing a seed layer with a hexagonal wurtzite structure. Increasing the precursor concentration alters the diameter, length, and area density of ZNAs, affecting their performance. The ZNA-AgNM-based photodetector shows enhanced dark current and photocurrent with increasing precursor concentration, achieving a maximum photoresponsivity of 114 A/W at 374 nm and a detectivity of 6.37 × 1014 Jones at 0.05 M zinc acetate. For gas sensing, the resistance of ZNA-AgNM-based sensors decreases with temperature, with the best hydrogen response (2.71) at 300 °C and 0.04 M precursor concentration. These findings highlight the potential of ZNA-AgNM for high-performance UV photodetectors and hydrogen gas sensors, offering an alternative way for the development of future sensing devices with enhanced performance and functionality.

Enhanced ultraviolet photodetection with Ag nanoparticle-decorated ZnO nanowires and core-shell electrodes

Our study presents the synthesis and characterization of one-dimensional (1-D) zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod (NR) arrays via low-temperature hydrothermal synthesis, followed by surface modification with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). Silver nanowires (AgNWs) are potential alternatives to indium-tin oxide, but their poor stability in atmospheric conditions poses a challenge. To address this, we developed ultrathin Ag/ZnO core-shell structured nanowire networks for ultraviolet-photodetectors (UV-PDs). This cost-effective solution process yielded high transmission (77 %) and low sheet resistance (8.3 Ω/sq). We comprehensively investigated surface morphology, crystalline nature, elemental composition, optical properties, and electrical performance of both synthesized nanorod arrays and NW networks. The UV photodetector exhibited a rise time of approximately 1.35 s and a decay time of 8.01 s, both faster than pristine AgNW electrodes. Additionally, the dark current decreased from 9 nA to 3.5 nA after incorporating Ag/ZnO, accompanied by a significant improvement in photocurrent. These results highlight a promising approach for high-performance UV photodetectors, leveraging the stability and conductivity of Ag/ZnO core-shell NW networks.

The effect of seed layer cycles on the structural, optical, and morphological properties of ZnO nanorods.

In this study, ZnO seed layers with different cycles were formed on glass substrates by the sol-gel technique, and ZnO nanorods were grown on them by the hydrothermal method. Morphology and the structural characterization of the seed films and the ZnO nanorods are carried out by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and x-ray diffraction techniques. In addition, to investigate the effect of seed layer deposition cycles on the optical properties of the ZnO nanorod arrays, UV/visible spectrophotometer and photoluminescence (PL) measurements were performed. The changes in structural and optical parameters such as dislocation density, strain, crystallite size, and optical band gap values on each seed layer deposition cycle were examined. The highest optical band gap and crystallite size were obtained for ZnO nanorods with 4 cycles seed layer as 3.22 eV and 63.6 nm, respectively. Also, in the PL spectrum, the largest ratio of UV-emission region to weak-visible emission region was obtained in ZnO nanorods having 4 cycles. In addition, the glucose detection properties of ZnO nanorods having 4 cycles were investigated using the PL measurements and it was found that UV-emission peak intensity of ZnO nanorods decreased as the glucose concentration increased from 8 to 40 mM. The results show that the number of deposition cycles of the seed layer has a strong influence on the orientation, crystal quality, and optical band gap of the growing ZnO nanorods, as well as significantly affecting their morphological properties. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: High quality ZnO nanorods were grown on glass substrates by hydrothermal method. The effect of ZnO seed layer cycles on the structural, optical, and morphological characteristics of ZnO nanorods grown on were examined. It was found that the number of cycles of the seed layer is a critical parameter for growing quality and well-aligned ZnO nanorods.

Improved Self‐Powered Photoresponse of ZnO Nanorods/SnS Nanosheets/PEDOT:PSS Heterostructure by Pyro‐Phototronic Effect

AbstractA ZnO nanorods/SnS nanosheets/PEDOT:PSS (ZSP) heterostructure is constructed by vapor growing a SnS nanosheets layer and spin‐coating a PEDOT:PSS layer onto ZnO nanorods arrays. By controlling the growth time of the ZnO nanorods, a series of ZSP heterojunction samples with various ZnO layer thicknesses are prepared. The formation of heterostructures contributed to the improved pyroelectric performance and fast response speed of these as‐prepared ZSP photodetectors (PDs). The thickness of the ZnO nanorod layer plays an important role in tuning the photoelectric performance of these PDs. For the optimized ZSP PD with an 800 nm thick ZnO layer, the pyroelectric effect improves its photocurrent by 137% at 365 nm and 0 V bias, and the ratio of the pyroelectric current to the photoelectric current reaches as high as 870% at 532 nm. This device also displays an ultra‐short rise/decay time of 0.64/0.95 ms at 405 nm. Moreover, the pyroelectric responses of these ZSP heterojunction PDs are further improved by increasing the light illumination frequency. These results demonstrate that the rational construction of novel heterojunctions and utilization of the pyroelectric effect holds great potential for fabricating high‐performance self‐powered PDs.

3D SERS substrate using silver nanoparticles decorated ZnO nanorods on silicon micropyramids hybrid heterostructure

3D hybrid heterostructure have been fabricated using Ag Nanoparticles decorated ZnO nanorods over textured Silicon Micropyramid for Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) applications. Silicon texturing was performed using facile Alkaline texturing route followed by the growth of ZnO nanorods (ZnONR) array on the micropyramids over which, the Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) were decorated. The phase and the surface of the heterostructure was studied by XRD and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), respectively. The SERS performance of the 3D heterostructure was evaluated using Rhodamine 6G (R6G) at various concentrations with a detection limit of 0.1 pM. The superior properties of SiMP/ZnONR/AgNP over ZnONR/AgND heterostructure has also been presented to understand the effect of the 3D pyramidal substrate for superior SERS performance. The recovery of the prepared heterostructure has also been demonstrated by photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine 6G and Methylene Blue. Our work demonstrates a facile synthesis of 3D SERS heterostructure and sheds light on its superior SERS properties paving ways for wide range of applications in bio-sensors, detection of harmful chemicals, food adulterations, narcotic detection and many more.

Three dimensional noble metal-metal organic framework composite as SERS substrate for efficient capture and detection of pesticides

Hybrids of noble metal and metal-organic framework (MOF) are promising substrates for molecule sensing by surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique. However, most of these composite SERS substrates are zero-dimensional (0D) or two-dimensional (2D) structures, limiting their efficiency in adsorption and Raman enhancement. In this work, a new three-dimensional (3D) SERS substrate CC/ZnO-Ag@ZIF-8 composed of carbon cloth (CC) supported ZnO nanorod array decorated with AgNPs and coated with ZIF-8 layer was prepared for sensitive detection of pesticide. Compared with common 0D/2D substrates, the synergy of ZnO, AgNPs and MOF in 3D space achieved the highly efficient utilization of each component’s advantages, greatly enhancing the adsorption capacity to analyte and significantly amplifying the EM enhancement effect. Consequently, the 3D SERS substrate showed high SERS sensitivity to pesticide intermediate 4-ATP with a detection of limit (LOD) as low as 10−10 M, which is 3 orders of magnitude lower than its 2D counterpart CC/Ag@ZIF-8, or 2 orders of magnitude lower than that of CC/ZnO-Ag without MOF coating. Additionally, ZIF-8 coating also improves the stability, anti-interference ability and signal consistency of the substrate. Finally, the 3D CC/ZnO-Ag@ZIF-8 was successfully applied to the quantitative analysis of pesticide thiram in real lake water sample, which achieved a linear range of 10−5 to 10−9 M and a LOD of 1 nM. Such 3D noble metal-MOF hybrid SERS substrate with multiple merits in adsorption, Raman enhancement, stability and reproducibility holds great promise in environmental analysis.

Buoyancy-Assisted Fabrication of Liquid Diode: Janus Nanofibrous Membrane for Efficient Wastewater Treatment.

The pressing need for effective methods to separate oil and water in oily wastewater has spurred the development of innovative solutions. This work presents the creation and evaluation of a Janus nanofibrous membrane, also known as the Liquid Diode, developed using electrospinning (e-spinning) and buoyancy-assisted hydrothermal techniques. The membrane features a unique structure: one side is composed of PVDF nanofibers embedded with a GO/TiO2 composite, exhibiting in-air superhydrophobic and superoleophilic properties, while the reverse side consists of PVDF nanofibers with a ZnO nanorod array, demonstrating in-air superhydrophilic and underwater (UW) superoleophobic properties. This distinct asymmetric wettability enables the membrane to effectively separate both water-in-oil (w-in-o) and oil-in-water (o-in-w) emulsions, achieving an impressive liquid flux and separation efficiency (SEff). The in-air superhydrophobic side of the Janus nanofibrous membrane achieves a maximum oil flux (Fo) of 3506 ± 250 L m-2 h-1, while the in-air superhydrophilic side achieves a maximum water flux (Fw) of 1837 ± 150 L m-2 h-1, with SEff exceeding 98% for both sides. Furthermore, the Janus nanofibrous membrane maintained reliable mechanical stability after 10 cycles of sandpaper abrasion test and demonstrated excellent chemical stability when subjected to acidic, alkaline, cold water and hot water conditions for 24 h. These properties, combined with its ability in breaking down of organic contaminants (98% ± 2% in 210 min) and pharmaceutical contaminants (97% ± 2% in 210 min) under visible light, highlight its photocatalytic potential. Additionally, the membrane's antifouling and antibacterial properties suggest long-term and sustainable use in wastewater treatment applications. The synergistic combination of these superior properties positions the Janus nanofibrous membrane as a promising solution for addressing complex challenges in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.

Synthesis and characterizations of zinc oxide nanorods by cost effective aqueous hydrothermal technique for solid state lighting applications

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is recognized as the most promising and often utilized semiconducting material due to its exceptional physical, chemical, optical, and relatively low-cost production features, as well as its ecologically beneficial nature. ZnO is a prominent candidate owing to its wide band gap (3.37 eV at room temperature) as well as its high exciton binding energy (60 meV) for the next generation of ultraviolet and blue optoelectronic devices. This would be achieved through the development of hybrid heterostructured LED devices with low manufacturing costs by blending gallium nitride (GaN) with zinc oxide (ZnO), which serves as the most efficient opto-electronic device. Due to its high electron mobility, high transparency in the visible wavelength spectrum, and low work function, ZnO is also a highly investigated transparent conducting oxide thin film for several applications. Besides, their incredible optical capabilities, ZnO-based optical devices, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and laser diodes (LDs), have drawn a great deal of interest. This reported research work demonstrates the growth of high-density, high-aspect-ratio ZnO nanorod (NR) arrays on p-type gallium nitride substrates employing low-cost facial aqueous hydrothermal syntheses with optimised growing conditions. Additionally, a top-down chemical etching technique is adapted for fabricating zinc oxide nanotubes. High-quality ZnO nanorods with high intensity that were a few microns long were found across the GaN substrate with FESEM analysis. The chemical composition of the grown nanorods is confirmed with EDAX analysis. The wurtzite crystalline structure and c-axis orientation of the grown ZnO NR-arrays were identified in X-ray diffraction studies. A Schimadzu UV–Vis–NIR spectrophotometer was used to record the optical curve, and the energy gap was determined to be 3.24 eV by plotting the Tauc curve. The good optical quality of the harvested nanorods is ensured by the narrow near-band-edge (NBE) emission at 384 nm and defect emission peaks detected through photoluminescence analyses. Grown specimens are also subjected to Raman spectrum analyses, and the obtained results are presented.

Effect of AZO seed layers on the ultraviolet photoresponse of Ag/ZnO NRs Schottky junctions

Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films with different layers were prepared by sol-gel method. The SEM, XRD and AFM for three layers thin films demonstrates high crystal quality and low roughness. ZnO nanorods arrays (NRs) with different AZO seed layers were fabricated using hydrothermal process, and the effect of AZO seed layers on the structural, optical, and electrical characteristics was investigated. When there are three AZO seed layers present, ZnO NRs exhibit fewer surface states, smaller interface charge transfer resistance (Rce = 6.1 × 103Ωand Rct = 6.6 × 106Ω), longer carrier lifetimes (τe = 4.0 ms), higher carrier concentration (ND = 4.73 × 1019 cm−3), and narrower depletion region width W = 3.1 nm. Under weak UV light 381 nm (5.68 mW/cm2) at a bias −0.5 V, Ag/ZnO NRs Schottky devices with three AZO seed layers display a comparatively strong responsivity 34.64 mA/W. Appropriate AZO seed layers are favorable for highly efficient ZnO NRs-based photoelectric conversion devices.