Rapid hydrothermal synthesis of zinc oxide nanorods on single crystal sapphire substrate

For development of ZnO nanorods-based heterostructures an environmentally benign synthesis process and fabrication route are required. Zinc oxide nanorod arrays have been grown on (0001) sapphire substrates by a rapid hydrothermal method (in 15 min) from a solution of zinc sulfate and sodium hydroxide. Two different synthesis regimes have been identified which give different morphologies of depositions shown by SEM. The structural properties of the depositions have been characterized by X-ray diffraction. Vibrational properties have been investigated by Micro-Raman spectroscopy. Detailed discussions of the experimental data are shown.