10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b00776.s001 Faqi Zhan Faqi Zhan Yahui Yang Yahui Yang Wenhua Liu Wenhua Liu Keke Wang Keke Wang Wenzhang Li Wenzhang Li Jie Li Jie Li Facile Synthesis of FeOOH Quantum Dots Modified ZnO Nanorods Films via a Metal-Solating Process American Chemical Society 2018 WO water oxidation surface charge injection efficiency FeOOH quantum dots XRD oxygen evolution reaction ZnO nanorods film TEM metal oxides QDs SEM FeOOH QDs as-prepared FeOOH QDs FeOOH Quantum Dots Modified ZnO Nanorods Films 1.23 V vs RHE 2018-05-02 00:00:00 Journal contribution https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Facile_Synthesis_of_FeOOH_Quantum_Dots_Modified_ZnO_Nanorods_Films_via_a_Metal-Solating_Process/6267197 In this study, we referenced the formation principle of rust in nature and the FeOOH quantum dots (QDs) were prepared using a metal-solating process. The FeOOH QDs exhibited an average diameter of 3.5 nm with well crystallinity. Furthermore, the as-prepared FeOOH QDs were deposited on ZnO nanorods film as a co-catalyst for water oxidation. The crystal phase, microstructures, and optical properties of the synthesized films were established through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, and ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis). Applied as a photoanode for solar water splitting, the FeOOH QDs/ZnO nanorods film exhibited a photocurrent density of 0.44 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> at 1.23 V vs RHE, which is 2.1 times higher than that of pure ZnO film. After the loading of FeOOH QDs, the ZnO photoanode showed higher surface charge injection efficiency (by a factor of ∼2) and better long-term stability. The analysis of electrochemical measurements displayed that, as a co-catalyst of the oxygen evolution reaction, FeOOH QDs resulted in a noticeable cathodic shift of photocurrent onset potential for water oxidation and a remarkable improvement of surface charge injection efficiency. In addition, the metal-solating method can be applied to preparing the other metal oxides QDs, such as WO<sub>3</sub> and ZnO QDs.