Direct and catalyst-free synthesis of ZnO nanowires on brass by thermal oxidation
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-1-2020
Abstract
In this research work, nanowires were grown on brass (Cu - 37.2 wt% Zn) substrate by thermal oxidation. The substrate was oxidized at temperatures ranging from 350 degrees C to 600 degrees C in the presence of varying concentrations of O-2 (1%-100%) in N-2 flown at a rate of 200 sccm. The oxidized brass surface was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscope and transmission electron microscope. Four different types of morphological variations such as thin, thick with branches, circular-flake and flat-cone shape nanostructures were observed during oxidation at different conditions. However, the prevalence of thin and thick morphology with branches was more prominent and found in all growth conditions. The length and diameter of the nanowires varied from 1 to 30 mu m and 50 to 500 nm, respectively, whereas the length of the branches varied from 1 to 3 mu m. The composition of the nanowires was ZnO possessing of hexagonal wurtzite structure. The selected area diffraction confirms that the nanowires grew along <1 1 <(2)over bar> 0> directions. Based on the results, a stress induced mechanism is proposed for the growth of ZnO nanowires on Cu - 37.2 wt% Zn substrate.
Keywords
ZnO nanowires, Brass, Thermal oxidation, Growth mechanism, Wurtzite
Divisions
mechanical
Funders
None
Publication Title
Nanotechnology
Volume
31
Issue
17
Publisher
Institute of Physics
Publisher Location
TEMPLE CIRCUS, TEMPLE WAY, BRISTOL BS1 6BE, ENGLAND