Investigation of Nucleation Mechanism and Tapering Observed in ZnO Nanowire Growth by Carbothermal Reduction Technique

• Published in: Nanoscale research letters Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 3
• Main Authors: Kar, Ayan, Low, Ke-Bin, Oye, Michael, Stroscio, Michael A, Dutta, Mitra, Nicholls, Alan, Meyyappan, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer New York 01.01.2011; Springer Nature B.V; Springer; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Chemistry and Materials Science; Materials Science; Microscopy; Molecular Medicine; Nano Express; Nanochemistry; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Nanowires; Online First articles in Volume 6 . These articles were published as Online First on SpringerLink in 2010. They should be cited with a 2011 publication year; ZnO; Microscopy; ZnO; Nanowires
• ISSN: 1931-7573; 1556-276X; 1556-276X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11671-010-9738-3

ZnO nanowire nucleation mechanism and initial stages of nanowire growth using the carbothermal reduction technique are studied confirming the involvement of the catalyst at the tip in the growth process. Role of the Au catalyst is further confirmed when the tapering observed in the nanowires can be explained by the change in the shape of the catalyst causing a variation of the contact area at the liquid–solid interface of the nanowires. The rate of decrease in nanowire diameter with length on the average is found to be 0.36 nm/s and this rate is larger near the base. Variation in the ZnO nanowire diameter with length is further explained on the basis of the rate at which Zn atoms are supplied as well as the droplet stability at the high flow rates and temperature. Further, saw-tooth faceting is noticed in tapered nanowires, and the formation is analyzed crystallographically.