Morphological and optical properties of cobalt ion-modified ZnO nanowires

Abstract

In this study, we prepared cobalt (Co) ion-modified ZnO nanowires using hydrothermal synthesis with zinc acetate dehydrate and Co (II) acetate hydrate precursors in ethanol solutions. Their morphological and optical properties were investigated with varying Co precursor concentration. The morphological changes of the ZnO nanowires depended positively on the concentration of the Co precursor. The ZnO nanowires showed modified crystal orientations and nanostructure shapes depending on the Co concentration in the solutions. Variations in the optical properties of the Co ion-modified ZnO nanowires could be explained by the interaction of the Co ions with the band electrons, oxygen vacancies, and zinc interstitials. The overall growth and characteristics of ZnO nanowires synthesized in solutions containing low levels of Co ions were related to Co doping into the ZnO bulks. In solutions containing high levels of Co ions, these were additionally related to the Co oxide cluster.