Zinc oxide nanostructures: growth, properties and applications

TLDR

Zinc oxide is a semiconducting, piezoelectric material whose nanostructures hold promise for optoelectronics, sensors, transducers, and biomedical applications. The article reviews ZnO nanostructures synthesized via solid–vapour phase technique and their growth mechanisms. ZnO nanostructures such as nanocombs, nanorings, nanohelixes, nanobelts, nanowires, and nanocages were synthesized by solid–vapour phase thermal sublimation under specific growth conditions. ZnO exhibits the richest family of nanostructures, with nanobelts demonstrated as nanosensors, nanocantilevers, field‑effect transistors, and nanoresonators.

Abstract

Zinc oxide is a unique material that exhibits semiconducting and piezoelectric dual properties. Using a solid–vapour phase thermal sublimation technique, nanocombs, nanorings, nanohelixes/nanosprings, nanobelts, nanowires and nanocages of ZnO have been synthesized under specific growth conditions. These unique nanostructures unambiguously demonstrate that ZnO probably has the richest family of nanostructures among all materials, both in structures and in properties. The nanostructures could have novel applications in optoelectronics, sensors, transducers and biomedical sciences. This article reviews the various nanostructures of ZnO grown by the solid–vapour phase technique and their corresponding growth mechanisms. The application of ZnO nanobelts as nanosensors, nanocantilevers, field effect transistors and nanoresonators is demonstrated.