ZnO Nanorods Array Synthesized by Chemical Bath Deposition: Effect of Seed Layer Sol Concentration

Abstract

One-dimensional Zinc oxide is among the most promising nanostructures due to their exceptional properties in wide range of applications such as electronic, optoelectronic, electrochemical, and electromechanical devices. The ZnO nanorods are synthesized by the means of chemical bath deposition. Among all of the parameters affecting chemical bath deposition method, the seed layer properties are vitally important to control the structural, morphological, and optical features of the ZnO nanorods. In this study the effect of seed layer sol concentration is investigated. Zinc acetate dihydrate (ZAD) as precursor, triethylamine as an additive, and 1-propanol as an alcoholic solvent are used to provide the sol to synthesize the seed layers. X-ray diffraction patterns show that all the ZnO seed layers and nanorods have hexagonal wurtzite structure. The preferred orientation along (002) polar surface is enhanced by increasing the ZAD concentration. Field emission scanning electron microscope images show that the morphological properties of ZnO nanorods are strongly depended on the seed layer sol concentration. As the ZAD concentration increases, the alignment of ZnO nanorods is enhanced. Furthermore, the diffuse reflectance spectroscopy analysis shows that the transmittance of nanorods is decreased by increasing the density of the ZnO nanorods.