Synthesis, characterization and photoelectrochemical properties of PbS sensitized vertically aligned ZnO nanorods: modified aqueous route

In the present investigation, cost-effective, simple and the modified aqueous chemical route was employed for development of PbS/ZnO heterogeneous thin films on the soda lime and fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates. The synthesized thin films were further characterized by UV–Vis spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS) for their optical, structural, morphological and compositional study. An optical absorption study indicated a direct allowed type of transition. The XRD patterns confirmed that, films were of well crystalline nature. FESEM micrographs illustrated that bare ZnO thin film has been well aligned vertically grown hexagonal nanorods having 3.3 µm length and ~100 nm diameters. PbS deposited by using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method formed compact interlinked smaller sized nanospheres, which can be beneficial for effective sensitization of microstructures. An XPS study showed synthesis of well composed thin films. PEC study highlighted that PbS/ZnO thin films open a new way for effective light harvesting.