Growth and optical properties of tetrapod-like indium-doped ZnO nanorods with a layer-structured surface

We report tetrapod-like indium-doped ZnO nanorods with a layer-structured surface, synthesized by a thermal vapor transport method. The high crystalline quality of the nanostructure sample obtained was confirmed by using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. We carried out photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation measurements to investigate the possible application of this indium-doped ZnO nanostructure in the field of optical devices. The photoluminescence exhibited an ultra strong visible wavelength emission with a peak intensity 300 times stronger than the band edge ultraviolet emission. In addition, a very slow decay of visible wavelength emission was revealed by time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.