Fabrication and photocatalytic property of ZnO/SrTiO3 core/shell nanorod arrays.

ZnO/SrTiO3 core/shell nanorod arrays were fabricated by a facile two-step method. ZnO nanorod arrays were first hydrothermally grown on Si substrate. Then, using liquid phase deposition method, SrTiO3 were deposited onto the ZnO nanorods to form core/shell nanorod structures. The morphologies and structures of the products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The photocatalytic behavior of the nanorod arrays was also examined through the photodegradation of methylene blue solution under UV irradiation. It was found that the core/shell nanorod arrays with deposition time of 10 min showed higher photocatalytic activity than bare ZnO nanorod arrays. This enhancement was attributed to the efficient charge separation at the ZnO/SrTiO3 interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]