Zinc oxide nanostructures and their applications

Zinc oxide (ZnO) has been known as the next most important material for the fabrication of efficient nano-devices and nanosystems because of its versatile properties such as semiconducting, piezoelectric, and pyroelectric multiple properties. In this review, the state-of-the-art technologies related to the synthesis and characterization, the selective growth of ZnO nanostructures, and their applications for nanodevices are discussed. A special concern is focused on the controlled selective growth of ZnO nanostructures on wanted areas of substrates, which is crucial factor for devices applications. The device applications of ZnO nanostructures include field effect transistors (FETs), field-emission devices, piezoelectric nanogenerators, biosensors, p-n heterjunction diodes such as light-emitting diodes and photovoltaic cells, and so on.