Structural, Optical and Electrical Properties of Cu-Doped ZnO Nanorods Grown on Flexible Polyethylene Terephthalate Substrate

Abstract

The research successfully revealed the fabrication of Cu-doped ZnO nanorods grown on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate using chemical bath deposition method. The grown Cu-doped ZnO nanorods have been systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The low compressive strain, strong and sharp (0 0 2) peak of the Cu-doped ZnO nanorods revealed a high-quality crystal structure. The average diameters of the undoped and Cu-doped ZnO nanorods grown on the PET substrate were 60 and 75 nm, respectively. The photoluminescence study exhibited an increased intensity in UV emission and decreased intensity in green emission with Cu doping. The current–voltage measurements demonstrate that the current level (with the bias voltage of + 5 V) increases from 205 µA to 1.83 mA with doping Cu into the ZnO nanorods. The well-aligned Cu-doped ZnO nanorods with high-density and quality crystal structure can be very suitable for applications in optoelectronic devices.