Surfactant and catalyst free facile synthesis of Al-doped ZnO nanorods – An approach towards fabrication of single nanorod electrical devices

Abstract

Classical models illustrate the genesis of bottom-up techniques for synthesis of pristine ZnO or Al-doped ZnO nanoparticles via surfactant aided or hydrothermal chemistry, to constitute the fundamental modules of nanotechnology and nanodevices. The present study demonstrates a facile as well as surfactant and catalyst free route for synthesis of morphology controlled Al-doped ZnO nanorods. Morphological evaluation (via FESEM and TEM characterization) clearly verifies the successful synthesis of ZnO and Al-doped ZnO nanorods. Moreover, crystallographic and FTIR studies ratified presence of multiple different planes as well as phases of ZnO and Al-doped ZnO nanostructures, eventually confirming the doping process. Further, the alteration in mode of electronic transition and surface charge of ZnO nanorods post doping with Al was witnessed from its UV–visible or photoluminescence spectra and zeta potential measurements, respectively. Electrical measurements were performed on prepared Al-doped ZnO nanorods which were fabricated as single nanorod devices. Owing to substitutional and interstitial doping, the electrical conductivity of the devices was drastically enhanced after doping. Excellent electrical attribute of the nanorods when fabricated into single nanorod device was indicative of its potential to be deployed as next generation nano-biosensors or piezo-electric devices.