Simple approach to highly oriented ZnO nanowire arrays: large-scale growth,photoluminescence and photocatalytic properties

Abstract

A simple and low-cost soft route has been developed to the directlarge-scale production of highly oriented ZnO nanowire arrays at60 °C. It has been found that the growth of well-aligned ZnO nanowire arrays is dependent onseveral parameters, such as the reaction time and the concentration of ammonium ions.The environmentally benign ZnO nanowires obtained, with significant photoluminescenceproperty and interesting photocatalytic activity, are single crystals and have a low defectconcentration, which could be expected to find promising potential for optoelectronic andenvironmental application.