ZnO nanorods/Pt and ZnO nanorods/Ag heteronanostructure arrays with enhanced photocatalytic degradation of dyes

Semiconductor–metal heteronanostructures provide an effective way to tailor the properties of semiconductor photocatalysts through promoting interfacial charge-transfer processes and enhancing charge separation. Here, a zinc substrate strategy has been developed for the solution-phase synthesis of well-defined ZnO nanorods/Pt and ZnO nanorods/Ag heteronanostructure arrays in high yields. The fabricated heteronanostructure arrays show significant structure-induced enhancements of photodegradation for rhodamine B and high photocatalytic stabilities, which are very attractive for real photocatalytic applications.