ZnO films were prepared on p-Si (111) substrates by using atomic layer deposition. High-resolution x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL), and I-V measurements were carried out to characterize structural, electrical, and optical properties. After introducing a 60-nm-thick AlN buffer layer, the growth direction ...

ZnO nanorods (NRs) were synthesized using an in situ low-temperature hydrothermal method. In order to investigate the effect of different seed layers on quality of ZnO NRs arrays, alcoholic, alkaline and acidic seed solutions were deposited by spin coating on ITO-glass substrate. Experimental results revealed that the vertically ZnO NRs obtained from monoethanolamine-based seed layer is the...

Zinc oxide is a unique material that exhibits semiconducting and piezoelectric dual properties. Using a solid–vapour phase thermal sublimation technique, nanocombs, nanorings, nanohelixes/nanosprings, nanobelts, nanowires and nanocages of ZnO have been synthesized under specific growth conditions. These unique nanostructures unambiguously demonstrate that ZnO probably has the richest family of ...

Using phosphorus-doped ZnO nanowire (NW) arrays grown on silicon substrate, energy conversion using the p-type ZnO NWs has been demonstrated for the first time. The p-type ZnO NWs produce positive output voltage pulses when scanned by a conductive atomic force microscope (AFM) in contact mode. The output voltage pulse is generated when the tip contacts the stretched side (positive piezoelectric...

Well-aligned ZnO nanostructures have been intensively studied over the last decade for remarkable physical properties and enormous applications. Here, we describe a one-step fabrication technique to synthesis freestanding ZnO nanorod/graphene/ZnO nanorod double heterostructure. The preparation of the double heterostructure is performed by using thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and prehea...

Quasi-one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures, such as nanowires, nanobelts and nanorods, are the forefront materials for nanotechnology. To date, such nanostructures have been synthesized for a wide range of semiconductors and oxides, and they are potential building blocks for fabricating numerous nano-scale devices. 1D ZnO nanostructures, due to its unique semiconducting, piezoelectric, and bio-s...

We propose a new 1–3 piezoelectric composite comprised of armchair single-walled carbon nanotubes imbedded in a piezoceramic matrix which we call a NRPEC (nanotube reinforced 1–3 piezoelectric composite). Values of effective piezoelectric and elastic moduli of the NRPEC determined through a micromechanical analysis are found to be significantly higher than those of the 1–3 piezoelectric composi...

We demonstrate a mechanical-electrical trigger using a ZnO piezoelectric fine-wire (PFW) (microwire, nanowire). Once subjected to mechanical impact, a bent PFW creates a voltage drop across its width, with the tensile and compressive surfaces showing positive and negative voltages, respectively. The voltage and current created by the piezoelectric effect could trigger an external electronic sys...

The infl uences of morphology and thickness of zinc oxide (ZnO) buffer layers on the performance of inverted polymer solar cells are investigated. ZnO buffer layers with different morphology and thickness varying from several nanometers to ≈ 55 nm are fabricated by adjusting the concentration of the precursor sol. The ZnO buffer layers with nearly same surface quality but with thickness varying...