Alkaline vapor oxidation synthesis and electrocatalytic activity toward glucose oxidation of CuO/ZnO composite nanoarrays

CuO/ZnO nanocomposite materials have attracted widespread attention because of their scientific and technological importance as, for example, photocatalysts, gas and humidity sensors, catalysts for H2 production and organic synthesis, and solar cells. High-temperature and/or complicated multistep processes are usually used to prepare these composites. Here we demonstrate a low-temperature and facile one-step synthesis of CuO nanoflowers/ZnO nanorods composite arrays via an alkaline vapor oxidation process. The CuO/ZnO composite nanoarrays show high electrocatalytic activity toward glucose oxidation.