Structural, optical properties and optical modelling of hydrothermal chemical growth derived ZnO nanowires
(1. Institute of Thin Films, Sensors and Imaging, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, PA1 2BE, United Kingdom;
2. Institute of Optoelectronic Engineering, Xi’an Technological University, Xi’an 710021, China;
3. School of Metallurgy and Material Engineering, Chongqing University of Science and Technology, Chongqing 401331, China;
4. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia;
5. School of Energy and Power, Institute of Energy and Power Technology, Changchun Institute of Technology, Changchun 130103, China)
2. Institute of Optoelectronic Engineering, Xi’an Technological University, Xi’an 710021, China;
3. School of Metallurgy and Material Engineering, Chongqing University of Science and Technology, Chongqing 401331, China;
4. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia;
5. School of Energy and Power, Institute of Energy and Power Technology, Changchun Institute of Technology, Changchun 130103, China)
Abstract: ZnO nanowire films were produced at 90 °C using a hydrothermal chemical deposition method, and were characterised with scanning electron microscopy, optical transmission spectrometry and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that the optical band gap is 3.274-3.347 eV. Film porosity and microstructure can be controlled by adjusting the pH of the growth solution. ZnO nanowire films comprise a 2-layer structure as demonstrated by SEM analysis, showing different porosities for each layer. XRD analysis shows preferential growth in the (002) orientation. A comprehensive optical modelling method for nanostructured ZnO thin films was proposed, consisting of Bruggeman effective medium approximations, rough surface light scattering and O''''Leary-Johnson-Lim models. Fitted optical transmission of nanostructured ZnO films agreed well with experimental data.
Key words: ZnO; nanowires; hydrothermal synthesis; optical modelling