Growth Kinetic and Characterization of RF-Sputtered ZnO:Al Nanostructures

• Published in: Journal of the American Ceramic Society Vol. 91; no. 1; pp. 174 - 177
• Main Authors: Choopun, Supab, Hongsith, Niyom, Wongrat, Ekasiddh, Kamwanna, Teerasak, Singkarat, Somsorn, Mangkorntong, Pongsri, Mangkorntong, Nikorn, Chairuangsri, Torranin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.01.2008; Blackwell
• Subjects: Chemical synthesis methods; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Methods of nanofabrication; Physics; Scanning electron microscopy; Raman spectra; Ionoluminescence; Inorganic compounds; Doping; Surfaces; Oxides; Zinc Oxides; XRD; Nanostructures; Experimental study; Characterization; Growth from vapor; Transmission electron microscopy; Morphology; Optical properties; Chemical preparation; Aluminium additions; Kinetics; Radiofrequency sputtering
• ISSN: 0002-7820; 1551-2916
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2007.02110.x

ZnO:Al nanostructures with 1% by mole of Al were prepared by radio frequency sputtering on copper and quartz substrates. The ZnO:Al nanostructures obtained exhibited needle‐ or tree‐like structures with the diameter ranging from 30 to 100 nm. It was suggested that these ZnO:Al nanostructures could be single‐crystalline hexagonal structures growing along the direction with branching along the 〈0001〉 direction. From Hall measurement, ZnO:Al nanostructures had a resistivity in the order of 10−2Ω·cm, a carrier concentration of 1020 cm−3, and a Hall mobility of 3 cm2·(V·s)−1. From X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and Raman results, ZnO:Al nanostructures had direction perpendicular to the surface, whereas ZnO nanobelts had the c‐axis perpendicular to the surface. In addition, the growth mechanism of the wire and belt‐like nanostructure could be explained by kinetics of anisotropic growth via a vapor–solid mechanism. This information would be useful for further applications of ZnO:Al nanostructures.