Abstract
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•We have fabricated a PPV-C6/ZnO NRs heterojunction by a simple and low cost method.•We have studied the structural and optical properties of the heterojunction.•I–V characteristics of EGa-In/Si/PPV-C6/ ZnO NRs /graphite devices were analyzed.•Photoelectrical study shows a potential opportunity for UV light sensor development.
Poly(1,4-phenylenevinylene) derivative (PPV-C6) based solution was spin-coated onto hydrothermally grown and vertically aligned ZnO nanorods (ZnO NRs).The morphological and the optical properties of the PPV-C6/ZnO NRs hybrid heterojunction have been studied and shown a penetration of PPV-C6into the interspaces between the ZnO NRs with enhanced excitonic dissociation. The current–voltage characteristics in dark and under 395 nm LED illumination have been analyzed. A short-circuit current Jsc of 4691.42 μA/cm2, an open-circuit voltage Voc of 0.46 V giving rise to a responsivity of about 29.32 mA/W have been obtained for the illuminated graphite/PPV-C6/ZnO NRs/Si/EGa-In structure based near UV light sensor showing an enhanced responsivity by a factor of about 200 compared with bare ZnO NRs based one. We have succeeded in the development of low cost near-UV light sensors by simple low temperature hydrothermal method using eco-friendly, low cost and easily fabricated electrodes.