Growth of ZnO nanorod arrays by one-step sol–gel process

ZnO nanorods are usually formed by two-step method. In the first step, a seed layer is coated on substrate and then the second treatment by hydrothermal method is employed for formation of nanorods. Here, we report that ZnO nanorods can be directly coated on glass substrates by sol–gel dip coating technique without the second treatment. The effect of coating layers on morphological, structural, electrical, and optical properties was studied. According to the cross-sectional SEM images of the produced ZnO nanorods, a seed layer was spontaneously observed. The diameter of the ZnO nanorods was varied between 200 nm and 1 µm with coating thickness. The effect of the zinc nitrate tetrahydrate and zinc chloride precursors on the preparation of the ZnO nanorods was also investigated. And, it was found that the zinc chloride precursor exhibited formation of nanorods on the glass substrates. According to the Hall effect measurements, the ZnO nanorods exhibited mobility as high as 95 cm² (Vs)⁻¹. The X-ray diffraction and electrical studies indicated that highly pure crystalline ZnO nanorods could be obtained by the one-step solution method.