ZnO Nanorods Prepared by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis: Effect of Deposition Time on the Structural Morphological and Optical Properties

Abstract

Zinc oxide Nanorods (ZnO-NRs) were deposited onto glass substrates using zinc chloride by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis (USP) method. The films were prepared in different deposition time at optimum deposition parameters. The effect of deposition time on the structural, morphological and optical properties of ZnO-NRs was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-Vis spectrometry (UV-Vis). XRD and SEM measurements indicated that all films show a hexagonal wurtzite Nano rods (NRs) structure growing preferentially along c-axis perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. Optical transmission spectra showed high transmittance of 80-85% in the visible range for all thin films, and increase of optical band gap from 3.24 to 3.265 eV with deposition time. The high quality c-axis orientated ZnO thin films with minimum strain and tuneable optical properties could be used as a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) for optoelectronic applications.