Growth of Single Crystal Zinc Oxide Beaded Nanowires

Reported here is the growth of single crystal zinc oxide beaded nanowires. The beaded nanowires are composed of nanobeads and ultrafine joint nanorods, which alternatively epitaxially grow along [001] direction of zinc oxide wurtzite structure. The growth mechanism was discussed and a zinc-rich process was proposed. Due to the size confinement, the bandgap along the beaded nanowires is modulated by their diameter and like multiple quantum well structure. Different from traditional multiple quantum well structures through alternate heterogeneous epitaxial growth of semiconductors, this kind of quasi-one-dimensional homogeneous multiple quantum well structures is composed of same substance. Their bandgap is modulated through alternately adjusting their diameter along single crystal nanowires. Further studies exhibit that they are of special properties on photoluminescence and Raman spectra. The demonstration would open the route to synthesize homogeneous multiple quantum well structures, study their fundamental physical phenomena, and exploit their applications.