Fabrication and photoelectrochemical properties of cone-shaped CdSe nanorod arrays

Vertically aligned, cone-shaped CdSe nanorods (NRs) have been synthesized on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass by a simple one-step, template-free electrochemical deposition at room temperature. The preparation took advantage of the wurtzite structure characteristics and current density. The experiments had been conducted with different current densities at the zero time (j) in order to investigate the morphology dependence on j. Photoelectrochemical measurements indicated that the novel CdSe photoelectrode had a potential application in photovoltaic devices. The cone-shaped nanostructure presented here could be a model system for fabricating shape-controlled NRs of other wurtzite structural materials. [Display omitted] •Cone-shaped CdSe nanorods synthesized on FTO for the first time.•The experiment was simple, low cost, time saving, and had good repeatability.•The experiments investigated the mechanisms that determine the morphology.•The largest power conversion efficiency of 4.67% was observed.