Selective Growth of ZnO Nanorods on SiO2/Si Substrates Using a Graphene Buffer Layer

A promising strategy for the selective growth of ZnO nanorods on SiO2/Si substrates using a graphene buffer layer in a low temperature solution process is described. High densities of ZnO nanorods were grown over a large area and most ZnO nanorods were vertically well-aligned on graphene. Furthermore, selective growth of ZnO nanorods on graphene was realized by applying a simple mechanical treatment, since ZnO nanorods formed on graphene are mechanically stable on an atomic level. These results were confirmed by first principles calculations which showed that the ZnO-graphene binding has a low destabilization energy. In addition, it was found that ZnO nanorods grown on SiO2/Si with a graphene buffer layer have better optical properties than ZnO nanorods grown on bare SiO2/Si. The nanostructured ZnO-graphene materials have promising applications in future flexible electronic and optical devices.