A low temperature in situ facile technique to enhance ultraviolet emission of zinc oxide nanorods and its mechanistic insights

A novel approach for enhancing the ultraviolet emission properties of ZnO nanorods (NRs) using a in situ facile hydrothermal technique in the presence of excess zinc metal in addition to zinc acetate in the precursor has been demonstrated. The photoluminescence studies show a higher ultra-violet (UV) emission (IUV/IVIS ∼38) in the NRs grown with 15 mM excess zinc metal compared to that (IUV/IVIS ∼5.5) of the NRs grown without excess metal. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies reveal a higher intensity signal at g ∼1.95 for NRs grown with 15 mM excess zinc indicating the presence of paramagnetic Zni in higher concentration.