Luminescent properties of vertically aligned ZnO nanorod arrays grown on (100) Si substrates

Abstract

The effect of the dimensions of zinc oxide nanorods on their cathodoluminescence (CL) has been studied in the visible through UV spectral region. The results indicate that hexagonally faceted columnar nanordos grown on (100) Si substrates are aligned almost vertically. The chemistry of point defects in the nanorods is shown to depend on their position in the reactor during growth. The low-temperature CL spectra of the nanorods show peaks due to bound excitons and electron recombination through the nitrogen acceptor level. Electron microscopy results show that the ZnO nanocrystals are highly uniform in shape and size and that these parameters depend on the chemical vapor deposition conditions.