Facile fabrication of n-ZnO nanorods/p-Cu2O heterojunction and its photodiode property

Abstract

This report presents the fabrication and characterization of n-ZnO nanorods/p-Cu2O hetrojunction photo-diode. The ZnO nanorods (NRs) were deposited onto electrodeposited Cu2O thin film by hydro thermal method. The structural, morphological and optical properties of ZnO NRs and Cu2O films were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy, UV-Vis spectrophotometer, respectively. XRD patterns revealed that the as-grown films were highly crystalline nature with strong predominant orientation of (111) and (002) lattices corresponding to Cu2O and ZnO NRs, respectively. Current voltage (I-V) characteristic of n-ZnONR5/p-Cu2O structure confirmed the formation of heterojunction exhibiting diode-like rectifying nature. It showed enhanced conversion of UV light, which indicates the suitability of the simple and low-cost n-ZnO NRs/p-Cu2O heterojunction device for optoelectronic applications. The sandwich type ITO/n-ZnO NRs/p-Cu2O/ITO structure is quite novel approach for the efficient and complete collection of carriers in nanorods incorporated devices.