Propeller‐Shaped ZnO Nanostructures Obtained by Chemical Vapor Deposition: Photoluminescence and Photocatalytic Properties

Abstract

Propeller‐shaped and flower‐shaped ZnO nanostructures on Si substrates were prepared by a one‐step chemical vapor deposition technique. The propeller‐shaped ZnO nanostructure consists of a set of axial nanorod (50 nm in tip, 80 nm in root and 1 μ m in length), surrounded by radial‐oriented nanoribbons (20–30 nm in thickness and 1.5 μ m in length). The morphology of flower‐shaped ZnO nanostructure is similar to that of propeller‐shaped ZnO, except the shape of leaves. These nanorods leaves (30 nm in diameter and 1–1.5 μ m in length) are aligned in a radial way and pointed toward a common center. The flower‐shaped ZnO nanostructures show sharper and stronger UV emission at 378 nm than the propeller‐shaped ZnO, indicating a better crystal quality and fewer structural defects in flower‐shaped ZnO. In comparison with flower‐shaped ZnO nanostructures, the propeller‐shaped ZnO nanostructures exhibited a higher photocatalytic property for the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B under UV‐light illumination.