Low-Cost Electrodeposition of Size-Tunable Single-Crystal ZnO Nanorods

Abstract

In this paper we report a low cost, simple, electrochemical method for large-area growth of single crystal ZnO nanorods. The method utilizes a metallic zinc foil as the source of the necessary zinc ions for ZnO growth on indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) glass slides. The method is thoroughly discussed and investigated varying all the parameters involved. The resulting ZnO nanorods are highly oriented along c-axis and densely packed, while their length and diameter can be tuned by varying the growth parameters. Two different types of seed layers on the ITO glass slides are tested. A seed layer made by spin coating of ZnO nanoparticles results in a twofold increase of the ZnO nanorod surface density as compared with a ZnO thin film seed layer by physical vapor deposition. Additionally, the effect of oxygen supply during electrodeposition was investigated as a crucial regulatory parameter not only for the geometrical and topological characteristics of the ZnO nano-arrays but for their physical properties as well.

A Stable Rechargeable Aqueous Zn–Oxygen Battery with Mn-based Bifunctional Electrocatalysts

“…Micrographs at different magnifications of the innermost zone of the electrode indicate that, after the charge−discharge process, the Zn electrode has developed different filament structures of Zn oxides (confirmed by EDS analysis), 80 meaning that the inside porosity of the counter electrode is electrochemically active, delaying the passivation of the counter electrode and increasing the active area. This type of porous structure has allowed prolonged cycling compared to tests when Zn foil is used as a counter electrode.…”

Characterization of Eu doped ZnO micropods prepared by chemical bath deposition on p-Si substrate

“…The p (hkl) of commercial ZnO powder (Sigma-Aldrich inventory: 1314-13-2), calculated from the XRD spectrum measured under the same conditions, is also shown for comparison. The values of the orientation parameter obtained for our micropods show a preferential orientation along the axis [100], which is different from that of the powder ([101]), thin film [40,41], and nanorods ([002]) [42]. As the micropods grow along the c-axis of the wurtzite structure, perpendicular to the [100] direction, most of the deposited ZnO micropods are longitudinally on the surface of the silicon substrate (micropods tend to orient flat on a substrate upon drying) and the other is randomly oriented, which explains the low intensity of other X-ray peaks.…”

Plasmonic Solar Energy Harvesting by ZnO Nanostructures and Their Composite Interfaces: A Review on Fundamentals, Recent Advances, and Applications

“…There are other factors as well responsible, such as the concentration of Zn 2þ , deposition potential, and pH of electrolyte. [200][201][202][203][204] The concentration of Zn 2þ is one vital parameter in the growth of ZnO nanowires by electrodeposition. In the case of the growth of ZnO nanosheets, a ZnO seed layer is first formed through the restrained nucleation and growth process, which acts as the lattice-matched template for the growth of ZnO nanosheets.…”