Controlled growth of ZnO array on FTO glass substrate by electrodeposition

Abstract

In this study, ZnO nanotube and nanorod array films were respectively synthesized directly on F-doped SnO2 glass substrate (FTO) using a direct electrodeposition from a simple aqueous zinc salt solution. The effects of potential value, electrodeposition mode and solution stirring speed on the product morphology were investigated. Controlling the reaction under potentiostatic condition of −0.7 V at stirring speed of 300 r/min, large-scale nanotube arrays perpendicular to the substrate can be synthesized at a low temperature of 70 °C. By varying the reaction parameters, we can also obtain ZnO nanorod arrays. The results of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy have been provided to characterize the structure and morphology of the nanotube and nanorod arrays. Experiment results show that the as-obtained ZnO has a single crystalline structure and c-axis oriented direction. The room-temperature photoluminescence spectrum of the ZnO nanotube array film displayed its high crystal property available as a photonic material. Electrodeposition is an effective method to prepare ZnO nanotube array films in quantity.