Tuning the optical and electrical properties of hydrothermally grown ZnO nanowires by sealed post annealing treatment

ZnO nanowires (NWs) synthesized by hydrothermal methods usually show poor optical properties due to native defects. By sealed post annealing treatment, we significantly improved the UV emission and suppressed the defect related photoluminescence emission in ZnO NWs. By adding phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5)(P2O5) in the treatment, we were able to tune the electron concentration in ZnO NWs from 9.7×1019cm−3 to 1.0×1018cm−3. Meanwhile, the electron mobility increased from 6.1cm2/Vs to 19.5cm2/Vs. The present treatment effectively compensated the native point defects in hydrothermally grown ZnO NWs.

► By sealed post annealing, the optical properties of ZnO NWs can be improved.
► The mechanisms of the treatment vary in size of ZnO NWs.
► EDX indicated phosphorus can dope into ZnO NWs by adding P2O5 in the treatment.
► The electric properties of ZnO NWs can also be tuned by phosphorus doping.