Zinc oxide nanorods and their photoluminescence property

Large-quantity growth of ZnO nanorods is achieved by oxidation of Zn powders with catalyst-free method. The products are characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The as-grown nanorods are structurally uniform with diameter ranging frorn 60 to 150 nm and lengths of up to 5 - 8 mum, and they are single crystalline in nature with growth direction parallel to [0001]. Room-temperature photoluminescence spectrum of the nanorads shows a strong and sharp UV emission band at 385 nm and a weak and broad green emission band at 495 nm. The vapor-solid model is also proposed to explain the growth behavior of ZnO nonorods in our synthesis process.