Composite materials based on nanostructured zinc oxide

Composites formed from ZnO nanorods in combination with CuO or Ag nanoparticles are produced by the deposition of CuO or Ag nanoparticles onto ZnO nanorod arrays grown by the hydrothermal technique. The CuO nanoparticles are synthesized by the vacuum thermal deposition of a Cu layer followed by vacuum annealing at a temperature of 350$^\circ$C for 1 h. CuO particles covered with a layer of nanoneedles are obtained. The current-voltage characteristics of the ZnO/CuO layers are indicative of the formation of a $p$–$n$ junction. The ZnO/Ag composites are produced by the electrical deposition of Ag nanoparticles synthesized in an aqueous solution of silver nitrate and sodium citrate. The surface morphology and the optical and electrical properties of the samples are studied.