Magnetic alignment of ZnO nanowires for optoelectronic device applications

Abstract

Ni caps on ZnO nanowires were synthesized to control the direction and position of these nanowires using magnetism. Vertically ordered ZnO nanowires were grown 15μm in length by metal organic chemical vapor deposition and then ferromagnetic Ni was capped on top of the nanowires by sputtering. The synthesized nanowires were aligned at the edge of the magnetized Ni patterns by applying a magnetic field. The density of the aligned nanowires depended on the magnetic force of the Ni patterns. Nanowire-based ultraviolet sensors were demonstrated using the magnetic alignment method.