Energy Alignment of Quantum-Confined ZnO Particles with Copper Oxides for Heterojunctions with Improved Photocatalytic Performance

O, by about 140%. The results show that utilization of a heterojunction with controllable energy alignment can provide a drastically improved photocatalytic performance. Apart from increased photocatalytic activity, specific surface states of ZnO are quenched when the heterojunction is created. It is anticipated that the same approach can be utilized in several material combinations with the added benefit of a system with controllable overpotential and thus added specificity for the targeted reduction reaction.