Optimization and tuning of the aspect ratio of hydrothermally grown ZnO nanorods by varying the hydrothermal temperature and their electron transport properties

¹ Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana Road, 20000 Kandy, Sri Lanka
² Department of Physics, Univeristy of Peradeniya, 20400 Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

^a e-mail: jayasundera@yahoo.com

Received: 19 August 2014
Revised: 9 October 2014
Accepted: 22 December 2014
Published online: 27 January 2015

Abstract

In this investigation, a facile method to synthesize 1-D ZnO nanorod having different aspect ratio by varying the hydrothermal temperature was demonstrated. The hydrothermal reaction temperatures were optimized to obtain high aspect ratio ZnO nanorods with well-defined 1-D structures. The aspect ratio depended electron transport properties, charge recombination, chemical capacitance, life-time and charge diffusion length of 1-D ZnO nanostructures were investigated. It was observed a clear correlation between the aspect ratio and the electron transport properties of ZnO nanorods. The highest aspect ratio of 7.6 was obtained for the ZnO nanorods synthesized at 100–120 °C and was found to have the highest electron transport properties. It was demonstrated the formation of highly crystalline, high-aspect ratio 1-D ZnO nanorods with enhanced electron transport properties at low hydrothermal temperatures which will be beneficial for device applications.