Growth of well-arrayed ZnO nanorods on thinned silica fiber and application for humidity sensing

Abstract

Thinned silica fibers were fabricated by drawing conventional single mode silica fiber through flame heated method and well-arrayed ZnO nanorods were grown on the thinned silica fibers by a hydrothermal method. The structure enables efficient light coupling between the fiber and the nanorods. With the unique property of high surface to volume ratio of one-dimensional ZnO nanorods, light coupled to nanorods array enhances the optical interaction between the device and the ambient environment. Sensitive humidity sensor was demonstrated by launching laser into ZnO nanorod-covered fibers. Theoretical and experimental results are presented.