Preparation and optical properties research of ZnO nanorod arrays

ZnO nanorod arrays were prepared by solution deposition on FTO substrate with ZnO nanoparticles. The effects of concentration of growth solution on the morphology and optical properties of ZnO nanorod arrays were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission spectra and photoluminescence spectrum were used to characterize the crystal structures, morphology and optical properties of the ZnO nanorod arrays. XRD pattern indicates the as-prepared ZnO nanorods are hexagonal wurtzite structures and grow along c-axis. SEM results show that the ZnO nanorod arrays are dense arranged and the orientation shows good consistence. Optical study reveals the ZnO nanorod arrays exhibit high transmittance in visible domain and have a strong near-band ultraviolet emission at 378 nm. It can be expected that the structural defects decrease greatly with the decrease of the growth solution concentration.