Silver Nanoisland Induced Synthesis of ZnO Nanostructures by Vapor Phase Transport

ZnO nanostructures including nanorod and nanotower were synthesized on Ag nanoisland coated Si substrate by thermal evaporation and vapor phase transport at atmospheric pressure. The as-prepared ZnO nanorods and nanotowers were single crystal growing along [0001] direction. The growth of ZnO nanostructures strongly depended on the surface morphology of the nanoisland Ag film deposited by electroless nanoelectrochemistry. The growth mechanism of the ZnO nanostructures was proposed on the basis of experimental data. A strong room-temperature photoluminescence in ZnO nanostructures has been demonstrated. The growth technique would be of particular interest for direct integration in the current silicon-technology-based optoelectronic devices.