Study of ZnO nanorods grown under UV irradiation

Abstract ZnO nanorods (NRs) perpendicularly oriented to the fused silica substrates were directly grown under hydrothermal conditions at 90 °C with or without UV irradiation. The different morphological structures were visualized and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The crystalline configuration and the structural quality of the ZnO NRs were investigated by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The surface properties of ZnO NRs were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Photoluminescence and photothermal deflection spectroscopy techniques were employed to investigate the optical and photoelectrical characteristics of the synthesized ZnO NRs, as well as the changes induced by the absorbance of UV irradiation. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was applied to investigate the electron spin state and the structural defects in the given structures. The results from the SEM analysis showed a significant increase in the length of the ZnO NRs grown under UV irradiation, as well as the improvement in their uniformity. An enhancement of the optical and opto-electrical quality of the UV irradiated samples was also observed.