Synthesis of well-aligned ZnO nanowires by simple physical vapor deposition on c-oriented ZnO thin films without catalysts or additives

Abstract

Well-aligned ZnO nanowires were synthesized by simple physical vapor deposition using c-oriented ZnO thin films as substrates without catalysts or additives. The synthesized ZnO nanowires have two typical average diameters: 60nm in majority and 120nm in minority. They are about 4μm in length and well aligned along the normal direction of the substrate. Most of the synthesized ZnO nanowires are single crystalline in a hexagonal structure and grow along the [001] direction. The c-oriented ZnO thin films control the growth direction. Photoluminescence spectrum was measured showing a single strong ultraviolet emission (380nm). Such result indicates that the ZnO nanowire arrays can be applied to excellent optoelectronic devices.