(657c) High Yield Solution Synthesis of ZnO Nanowire Arrays Using a Novel Reactor Design

Chemical bath deposition is an inexpensive, low temperature, aqueous method for depositing oxide and chalcogenide thin films and nanostructures. However, such process frequently results in deposition yields of less than 5% and excessive waste solvent. Here we report the synthesis of ZnO nanowire arrays using a novel reactor which results in deposition yields of over 80% and reduces the waste solvent volume by a factor of 20. Furthermore our reactor design allows careful study of the thermodynamics and kinetics of ZnO formation. Nanowires are single crystals with strong UV photoluminescence. Dense arrays of well-aligned nanowires with diameters of 60 - 100 nm were grown on substrates pre-seeded with a thin polycrystalline ZnO film. Such nanowire arrays have applications in nanostructured solar cells, gas sensors, and photocatalysis.