Synthesis of ZnO nanorods by nanoparticle assisted pulsed-laser deposition

Nano-structured ZnO thin films were synthesized by the nanoparticle assisted pulsed-laser deposition in an oxygen background gas. Crystallized and c-axis oriented ZnO nanorods with a size of approximately 300 nm in average diameter and 6 mum in length were grown on sapphire substrates heated at approximately 700degreesC by the pulsed-laser deposition technique without any catalyst. Strong photoluminescence near the band-gap was observed from nanorods under excitation at 308 nm. The Rayleigh scattering diagnostics of the plume was also conducted, revealing that the nanorods grew from ZnO nanoparticles which formed in the plume and were transported onto the substrate.