Development and characterization of nanosheets attached nanotetrapods of zinc oxide

Abstract

A unique morphology of ZnO nanostructures namely nanosheets attached nanotetrapods have been grown using thermal evaporation of zinc, which promises innovative advantages of both one and two dimensional nanostructures. The nanostructures have been characterized using X-ray Diffractometer, Scanning Electron Microscope, Transmission Electron Microscope, Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis and Photoluminescence (PL) techniques. Various effects of low dimensionality have been analysed. Indexing of various peaks in XRD analysis confirmed the typical wurtzite ZnO structure. The SEM analysis revealed an interconnected three dimensional network of nanotetrapods with two dimensional sheets attached to the joints of nanotetrapods and a possible size control mechanism. TEM analysis provided a better understanding of the general morphology of nanotetrapods and size of nanorods and nanosheets. The chemical composition of the grown product has been analysed by EDAX which rules out the presence of any impurity and confirmed the purity of ZnO nanostructures. The PL spectroscopy was used to study the optical properties which indicate high optical purity of materials. The crystallite size as estimated by XRD analysis is observed in good agreement with the PL examination.