Electrodeposition of 3D hierarchical ZnO nanoflowers and their optical properties

Abstract

ZnO nanoflowers were synthesized by an electrodeposition method with a high methanol concentration in the aqueous solution. Morphology transformation from nanosheets to nanoflowers along with distinct changes in optical properties was observed as the deposition time was increased. The ZnO nanoflowers showed various photoluminescence (PL) bands centered at 380, 532, 580, and 670 nm while the nanosheets did not show the band at 532 nm. Low temperature PL spectra of the nanoflowers suggest that N substitution of O (NO) with binding energy of 123 meV may be formed in the nanoflowers. This study indicates that the unique nanostructures can be economically deposited and may have potential applications in solar cells, sensors, and detectors due to their large surface area. © 2012 The Electrochemical Society.