Microwave assisted chemical bath deposition of vertically aligned ZnO nanorods on a variety of substrates seeded by PVA–Zn(OH)2 nanocomposites

• Published in: Applied surface science 2012-03, Vol.258 (10), p.4467-4472
• Main Authors: Hassan, J.J., Mahdi, M.A., Chin, C.W., Hassan, Z., Abu-Hassan, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; FESEM; MA–CBD; Photoluminescence; Physics; PVA–Zn(OH)2 nanocomposites; XRD; ZnO nanorods
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2012.01.007

► In this study we have grown high quality vertically aligned ZnO nanorods on GaN, sapphire, ITO glass and quartz substrates. ► We used PVA–ZnO nanocomposites as seed layer for the growth of ZnO nanorods. ► We characterized the produced nanorods by XRD, FESEM, PL, and Raman techniques. ► We found that ZnO nanorods grown on GaN substrates have high quality, well vertical alignment and have high texture coefficient compared to other substrates. Vertically aligned zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods were synthesized successfully on p-type GaN, c-lattice Al2O3, ITO glass, and quartz single crystal substrates using the microwave-assisted chemical bath deposition method. All substrates were seeded with a PVA–Zn(OH)2 nanocomposites layer prior to nanorods growth. The effect of substrate type on the vertically alignment and morphology of the zinc oxide nanorods was studied. The diameter of the grown ZnO nanorods ranged from 30 to 170nm. Their structural quality and morphology were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which revealed hexagonal wurtzite structures perpendicular to the substrate along the z-axis in the direction of (002) plane. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements of the grown ZnO nanorods on all substrates exhibited high UV peak intensity compared to broad visible peak. Raman scattering studies were conducted to estimate the lattice vibration modes.