Low-temperature (similar to 250 degrees C) route to lateral growth of ZnO nanowires

Abstract

Zinc oxide nanowires were obtained through a vapor transport route at temperatures as low as around 250 degrees C. The diameters of the nanowires are similar to 40 nm and their lengths reach up to a few microns. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy showed that ZnO nanowires are of hexagonal wurtzite structures with the [11 (2) over bar0] growth direction. Raman spectrum reveals that the ZnO nanowires are of high-quality crystal and have an oxygen deficiency. The energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy result verifies that the nanowires contain a small amount of Bi besides Zn and O. The investigation of the growth mechanism suggests that BiI3 plays a key role on the fabrication of ZnO nanowires around 250 degrees C.