Optical and field-emission properties of ZnO nanostructures deposited using high-pressure pulsed laser deposition

ZnO/CuSCN Nano-Heterostructure as a Highly Efficient Field Emitter: a Combined Experimental and Theoretical Investigation

We report the synthesis of two-dimensional porous ZnO nanosheets, CuSCN nanocoins, and ZnO/CuSCN nano-heterostructure thin films grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates via two simple and low-cost solution chemical routes, i.e., chemical bath deposition and successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction methods. Detail characterizations regarding the structural, optoelectronic, and morphological properties have been carried out, which reveal high-quality and crystalline synthesized materials. Field emission (FE) investigations performed at room temperature with a base pressure of 1 × 10^-8 mbar demonstrate superior FE performance of the ZnO/CuSCN nano-heterostructure compared to the isolated porous ZnO nanosheets and CuSCN nanocoins. For instance, the turn-on field required to draw a current density of 10 μA/cm² is found to be 2.2, 1.1, and 0.7 V/μm for the ZnO, CuSCN, and ZnO/CuSCN nano-heterostructure, respectively. The observed significant improvement in the FE characteristics (ultralow turn-on field of 0.7 V/μm for an emission current density of 10 μA/cm² and the achieved high current density of 2.2 mA/cm² at a relatively low applied electric field of 1.8 V/μm) for the ZnO/CuSCN nano-heterostructure is superior to the isolated porous ZnO nanosheets, CuSCN nanocoins, and other reported semiconducting nano-heterostructures. Complementary first-principles density functional theory calculations predict a lower work function for the ZnO/CuSCN nano-heterostructure (4.58 eV), compared to the isolated ZnO (5.24 eV) and CuSCN (4.91 eV), validating the superior FE characteristics of the ZnO/CuSCN nano-heterostructure. The ZnO/CuSCN nanocomposite could provide a promising class of FE cathodes, flat panel displays, microwave tubes, and electron sources.

Spitzer shaped ZnO nanostructures for enhancement of field electron emission behaviors

We observed enhanced field emission (FE) behavior for spitzer shaped ZnO nanowires synthesized via a hydrothermal approach. The spitzer shaped and pointed tipped 1D ZnO nanowires of average diameter 120 nm and length ∼5-6 μm were randomly grown over an ITO coated glass substrate. The turn-on field (E on) of 1.56 V μm-1 required to draw a current density of 10 μA cm-2 from these spitzer shaped ZnO nanowires is significantly lower than that of pristine and doped ZnO nanostructures, and MoS2@TiO2 heterostructure based FE devices. The orthodoxy test that was performed confirms the feasibility of a field enhancement factor (β FE) of 3924 for ZnO/ITO emitters. The enhancement in FE behavior can be attributed to the spitzer shaped nanotips, sharply pointed nanotips and individual dispersion of the ZnO nanowires. The ZnO/ITO emitters exhibited very stable electron emission with average current fluctuations of ±5%. Our investigations suggest that the spitzer shaped ZnO nanowires have potential for further improving in electron emission and other functionalities after forming tunable nano-hetero-architectures with metal or conducting materials.

Controllable Ag nanoparticle coated ZnO nanorod arrays on an alloy substrate with enhanced field emission performance

Ag–ZnO nanocomposites are conveniently prepared on alloy substrates, leading to much improved field emission performances.

Tuning the work function of randomly oriented ZnO nanostructures by capping with faceted Au nanostructure and oxygen defects: enhanced field emission experiments and DFT studies

The lowering of the work function (Φ) can lead to a better field emission (FE) behavior at lower threshold fields. We report on enhanced FE from randomly oriented and faceted Au-capped ZnO hetero-nanostructures (HNs) having more oxygen defects. Large-area arrays of non-aligned, faceted Au-capped ZnO HNs, such as nanowires (NWs) and triangular nanoflakes (TNFs) are grown using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Enhanced FE properties from the TNF sample resulted in a turn-on field as low as 0.52 V μm(-1) at a current density of 0.1 mA cm(-2) and a field enhancement factor (β) as high as ≈5.16 × 10(5). Under similar experimental conditions, drawing the same current density from an NW specimen needs a higher turn-on field (0.86 V μm(-1)) and to exhibit nearly four times less field enhancement factor compared to the TNFs samples. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements confirm the presence of more oxygen defects in the TNF samples compared to the NW samples. Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) measurements show the average local work function to be 4.70 ± 0.1 eV for the TNF sample, which is ≈ 0.34 eV lower than the NW sample. Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the estimated Φ values are found to be 4.98 eV for ZnO(0001), 4.17 eV for Au(001)/ZnO(0001) and 3.91 eV for Au(001)/Ovac-ZnO(0001) surfaces. The DFT results are qualitatively in agreement with our experimental results. The presence of Au nanostructures on top of O-deficient and sharp-tipped TNFs results in enhanced FE performance following their reduced tunneling barrier via pinning of effective Φ.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of magnetically separable bactericidal CuFe2O4-embedded Ag-deposited ZnO nanosheets

A charge carrier-non-quenching magnetic core implanted in nanocrystalline ZnO and deposited with metallic Ag for superior bactericidal and photocatalytic activities.

Donor-acceptor binding interaction of 1-(naphthalene-1-yl)-2,4,5-triphenyl-1H-imidazole with semiconductor nanomaterials

The dynamics of photoinduced electron injection from 1-(naphthalene-1-yl)-2,4,5-triphenyl-1H-imidazole (NTI) to pristine ZnO, Mn-doped TiO2 and BaTiO3 nanoparticles have been studied by absorption, fluorescence and lifetime spectroscopic methods. Both the absorption and fluorescence results suggest the association between the nanoparticles and NTI. The calculated free energy change (ΔGet) confirms the electron injection from NTI to nano semiconductors. The critical energy transfer distance between NTI and the nanoparticles have been deduced. The emission of NTI is enhanced by pristine ZnO and quenched by Mn-doped TiO2 and BaTiO3 nanoparticles which are likely due to change of LUMO and HOMO levels of NTI on its association with nano semiconductors. The strong adsorption of the NTI on the surface of ZnO nanocrystals is likely due to the chemical affinity of the nitrogen atom of the NTI to the zinc ion on the surface of nanocrystals. Electron injection from photoexcited NTI to the CB(S(∗)→S(+)+eCB(-)) is likely to be the reason for the fluorescence enhancement.

Turn-off of fluorescence of styryl phenanthrimidazole on doping ZnO nanoparticles with Ce(3+)

ZnO nanoparticles were doped with Ce(3+) by sol-gel synthesis and characterized by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-visible diffuse reflectance (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. The dynamics of photoinduced electron injection from styryl phenanthrimidazole to Ce(3+)-doped ZnO nanoparticles has been studied by absorption, fluorescence and lifetime spectroscopic methods. Both the absorption and fluorescence quenching results suggest association between Ce(3+)-doped ZnO and the phenanthrimidazole. The free energy change (ΔGet) for electron injection has been calculated. The critical energy transfer distance between the phenanthrimidazole and Ce(3+)-doped ZnO nanoparticles has been deduced. In contrast to our earlier observation of enhancement of fluorescence of the phenanthrimidazole by ZnO nanoparticles, doping ZnO with Ce(3+) turns off its fluorescence. These findings provide a method to test the presence of Ce(3+) in ZnO nanocrystals.

Electronic structure and optical properties of Zn(OH)2: LDA+U calculations and intense yellow luminescence

Assigned U values in the LDA+U calculations should assure an appropriate overlap of the p−d states.

Homogeneous vertical ZnO nanorod arrays with high conductivity on an in situ Gd nanolayer

We demonstrate a novel, one-step, catalyst-free method for the production of size-controlled vertical highly conductive ZnO nanorod arrays with highly desirable characteristics on anin situuniform Gd nanolayer using pulsed laser deposition.

Nonquenching of charge carriers by Fe3O4 core in Fe3O4/ZnO nanosheet photocatalyst

Fe3O4-implanted ZnO and pristine ZnO nanosheets have been synthesized hydrothermally. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, elemental mapping, selected area electron diffractometry, powder X-ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, solid state impedance spectroscopy, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy show implantation of Fe3O4 in ZnO nanosheets. Fe3O4 core with ZnO shell is of type I core/shell heterostructure which is to quench charge carriers and suppress photocatalysis. But the photocatalytic activity is not suppressed on implantation of Fe3O4 in ZnO nanosheets, and time controlled single photon counting lifetime spectroscopy shows that the photogenerated charge carriers are not quenched by the Fe3O4 core in the ZnO nanosheets. The composite nanosheets are photostable, reusable, and magnetically recoverable, revealing potential application in mineralization of organic pollutants.

Defect-driven interfacial electronic structures at an organic/metal-oxide semiconductor heterojunction

The electronic structure of the hybrid interface between ZnO and the prototypical organic semiconductor PTCDI is investigated via a combination of ultraviolet and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS/XPS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The interfacial electronic interactions lead to a large interface dipole due to substantial charge transfer from ZnO to 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylicdiimide (PTCDI), which can be properly described only when accounting for surface defects that confer ZnO its n-type properties.

Styryl phenanthrimidazole-fluorescence switched on by core/shell BaTiO3/ZnO and Mn-doped TiO2/ZnO nanospheres and switched off by the core nanoparticles

Photoelectron transfer to core/shell Mn–TiO₂/ZnO and BaTiO₃/ZnO nanospheres. Enhanced absorbance because of binding with nanosemiconductors. Enhanced emission due to charge injection from the excited ligand to CB of ZnO.

Process of in situ forming well-aligned zinc oxide nanorod arrays on wood substrate using a two-step bottom-up method

A good nanocrystal covering layer on wood can serve as a protective coating and present some new surface properties. In this study, well-aligned ZnO nanorods (NRs) arrays were successfully grown on wood surface through a two-step bottom-up growth process. The process involved pre-sow seeds and subsequently their growing into NRs under hydrothermal environment. The interface incorporation between wood and ZnO colloid particles in the precursor solution during the seeding process was analyzed and demonstrated through a schematic. The growth process of forming well-aligned ZnO NRs was analyzed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, which showed that the NRs elongated with increased reaction time. The effects of ZnO crystal form and capping agent on the growth process were studied through different viewpoints.

Field emission properties of gold nanoparticle-decorated ZnO nanopillars

The structural and optoelectronic properties of ZnO nanopillars (ZnO-NPs) grown on Si substrates by the vapor transport deposition method were investigated. In particular, by varying the deposition duration and hence the morphology of the vertically aligned ZnO-NPs, the resultant field emission characteristics were systematically compared. In addition to identifying the advantageous field emission properties exhibited in the pencil-like ZnO-NPs, we observed that by adhering Au nanoparticles on the surface of the ZnO-NPs the turn-on field and the maximum current density can be drastically improved from 3.15 V/μm and 0.44 mA/cm(2) at 5 V/μm for the best ZnO-NPs to 2.65 V/μm and 2.11 mA/cm(2) at 5 V/μm for Au/ZnO-NPs, respectively. The enhancement of field emission characteristics that resulted from Au-nanoparticle decoration is discussed on the basis of charge-transfer-induced band structure modifications.

Controllable low temperature vapor-solid growth and hexagonal disk enhanced field emission property of ZnO nanorod arrays and hexagonal nanodisk networks

ZnO nanorod arrays and nanodisk networks were grown directly on Si substrate by thermal evaporation of ZnCl(2) powder and a mixture of ZnCl(2) and InCl(3)·4H(2)O at 450 °C in air, respectively. The ZnO nanorods with the diameters of 0.64 to 0.91 μm and length of about 5.1 μm are single crystalline with the hexagonal structure and grow along the [001] direction. The nanodisk has perfect hexagonal shape, grow mainly along the [0110] directions, and are enclosed by ±(0001) top and bottom surfaces. ZnO nanoparticle films oriented in the [001] direction formed first served as seeds, and grow into nanorod arrays via the vapor-solid (VS) process. However, when InCl(3)·4H(2)O was introduced into the reaction system ZnO thick nanosheet films are first formed because of the local segregation of the doping element of indium. The ZnO thick nanosheet films served as seeds, and grow into nanodisk networks via the V-S process. Photoluminescence and field emission properties of the as-obtained ZnO nanorod arrays and hexagonal nanodisk networks have been studied. It was found that the hexagonal nanodisk networks exhibit strong blue-green emissions originated from defect states and enhanced field emission property.

Optical and photocatalytic properties of single crystalline ZnO at the air-liquid interface by an aminolytic reaction

Crystalline flowerlike ZnO was synthesized by an aminolytic reaction at the air-liquid interface in an aqueous media at an alkaline pH. A thin visible film was formed at the air-liquid interface by self-assembly of flowerlike ZnO. Diffraction studies show rearrangement of the single crystalline units at the air-liquid interface leading to the formation of nanobelts. These nanobelts overlap systematically to form petals of the flowerlike structure; individual petals get curved with time. Each nanobelt is found to be single crystalline and can be indexed as the hexagonal ZnO phase. The organic product formed in the aminolytic reaction and dissolution-reprecipitation mechanism is the driving force for the formation of flowerlike ZnO at the air-liquid interface. A clear relationship between the surface, photocatalytic, and photoluminescent properties of ZnO is observed. The flowerlike structure exhibits a blue shift (3.56 eV) in the band emission as compared to bulk ZnO (3.37 eV). The photodegradation of methylene blue over the flowerlike ZnO catalyst formed at the air-liquid interface and in the sediments shows enhanced photocatalytic activity. The sub-bands formed due to surface defects facilitate separation of charge carriers increasing their lifetime, leading to enhanced photocatalytic activity of flowerlike ZnO.

Hierarchical nanostructured ZnO with nanorods engendered to nanopencils and pin-cushion cactus with its field emission study

In the present investigation, we report the synthesis of highly crystalline ZnO nanorods engendered to pin-cushion cactus and 1D nanopencil like nanoforms on zinc (Zn) foil via a simple sonochemical assisted hydrothermal route. The work reported herewith is attractive for two reasons: (i) the facile one step solution approach assisted by prior ultrasonication converts nanorods/nanobelts into nanopencils, and (ii) the sharp and quasi-aligned ZnO nanopencils are potential field electron emitters. In addition, the controlled growth of pinhole like ZnO nanopencils and aligned hexagonal ZnO nanodisc was obtained. The changes in the growth rate, diameter, density, and surface area of highly oriented ZnO nanorods are examined. Considering the significances of such novel morphologies, technically detailed formation mechanism has been proposed. The field emission study of pin-cushion cactus like ZnO nanopencils was performed. Field emission measurements demonstrate remarkably low turn-on field which is explained on the basis of a sequential enhancement mechanism involving the consecutive stem and tip contribution. The Folwer-Nordheim (F-N) plot showed nonlinear behavior indicating the semiconducting nature of the emitter. Significantly, emission current is stable at the preset value of 3 μA over the period of 3 h. The simplicity of the synthesis route coupled with the promising emission properties is envisaged to be an important candidate for potential nanoelectronic devices. These unique imperative ZnO nanostructures may have potential for sensors, solar cell, photocatalysis, varisters, etc.