Compairing Zinc Oxide Nanowires grown with copper and gold catalysts on sapphire

Susie Eustis, Douglas Meier, and Babak Nikoobakht

            Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires hold great promise due to the optical, mechanical and electrical properties of these one-dimensional structures, but current uses are limited by the inability to produce high quality nanowires over large areas.  Chemical vapor deposition in a high temperature tube furnace was used to synthesize ZnO nanowires catalyzed with gold and copper on sapphire surfaces.  Differences in the size of the nanowires, temperature behavior, and optical properties of the nanowires of gold and copper catalyzed NWs shed light on the method of formation of nanowires.  The copper nanowires grow longer and at lower temperatures than the gold catalyzed nanowires.  However, the copper decreases the desired optical response of the ZnO nanowires due to its incorporation into the ZnO lattice.  These results show that the metal catalyst diffuses on the substrate surface leading to differential growth on different areas of the substrate. 

Your Name: Susie Eustis

Mentor’s name: Babak Nikoobakht

Division: Surface and Microanalysis Science Division

Laboratory: Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory

Building address and Room: 217 A103

Mail Stop: 8372

Telephone #: 301-975-8691

FAX #: 301-926-6689

Email: susie.eustis@nist.gov

Sigma Xi member: no

Category: Chemistry