Disk-capped multipod arrays of zinc oxide

A novel ZnO nanostructure was assembled in a vapor-phase transport process. The scanning electron microscopy images reveal the integration of polyhedrons, nanorods and nanodisks. The ZnO nanorods aligned on the surfaces of a polyhedron to form multipod arrays and each nanorod was capped with a nanodisk at the top. In each bundle, the disk-capped ZnO nanorods have the uniform size, and aligned along the same direction to form an array. The X-ray diffraction and the transmission electron microscope were employed to characterize the microstructure of the crystal. Based on the analysis of the lattice structure and growth direction, the growth mechanism of the nanostructure was discussed.