Well-aligned ZnO rod arrays grown on glass substrate from aqueous solution

Well-aligned ZnO rod arrays have been successfully synthesized on glass substrate from the aqueous solution of Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O and C₆H₁₂N₄ (HMT). Some critical issues such as seed layers, concentration and reaction time were investigated. The results show that ZnO seed layers were pre-requisite for the aligned growth of ZnO rod arrays. The length of rods is tunable in a range from 2 μm to 3 μm by varying the solution concentration and reaction time. X-ray diffraction results demonstrate that ZnO rods are wurtzite crystal structures preferentially orienting in the direction of the c-axis. Microstructure observation by scanning electron microscope confirms that ZnO rods grew up perpendicular to the substrate. Room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of rod arrays shows a strong emission band at about 396 nm.