The formation of zno nanorod arrays by low temperature hydrothermal process on seeded substrates
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Date
2010
Authors
Wai Kian, Tan
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Abstract
Well-aligned ZnO nanorod arrays were formed on seeded substrates by lowtemperature
hydrothermal process. The ZnO nanorod arrays is to be used as the
electrode for dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). A flexible polymeric substrate was
also studied. Since only few works are reported on the formation of the ZnO
nanorods on polymeric substrates, it was of interest to perform the study. The seed
layer was formed on the surface of PTFE by thermal oxidation of evaporated Zn film
PTFE. Hydrothermal was then conducted. Among important parameters of
hydrothermal process investigated: temperature, exposure time, pH and
concentration of precursor. The optimum condition for formation of ZnO nanorod
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arrays recorded in this work is temperature of the bath at 80°C for exposure time of
at least 4 h with the molar ratio of Zn(N03)2 to HMT at 1:1. The pH of the reactive
solution must be -pH 7. The ZnO nanorod arrays produced have good c-axis
orientation at along (002) plane. Ultra-violet emission and visible emission exhibited
by the Photoluminescence measurement of the nanorods showed good crystallinity.
HR-TEM, SAED and Raman analysis confirmed that nanorods formed are single
crystalline with ZnO wurtzite structure that grows along the [0001] direction. ZnO
nanorods arrays were also formed heat-treated sol-gel derived seed layer on nonalkaline
glass and on ITO substrates. Dye sensitized solar cell were fabricated by
using the ZnO nanorod arrays formed on ITO after 4 h, 8 h, 12 h and 24 h of
hydrothermal exposure time.