Growth and optical properties of tetrapod-like indium-doped ZnO nanorods with a layer-structured surface

We report tetrapod-like indium-doped ZnO nanorods with a layer-structured surface, synthesized by a thermal vapor transport method. The high crystalline quality of the nanostructure sample obtained was confirmed by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. We carried out photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation measurements to investigate the possible application of this indium-doped ZnO nanostructure in the field of optical devices. The photoluminescence exhibited an ultra strong visible wavelength emission with a peak intensity 300 times stronger than the band edge ultraviolet emission. In addition, a very slow decay of visible wavelength emission was revealed by time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy.

Research highlightsThe topic of this paper is preparation, characterizations and photoluminescence of indium doped ZnO nanomaterials, involved nanostructure and growth mechanism. So it is appropriate for Journal of Alloys and Compounds. The findings in this paper indicated tetrapod-like indium-doped ZnO nanorods with a layer structure can be synthesized by simple CVD method, which show ultra strong visible light emitting. Further more the reasonable growth mechanism has been proposed. Indium plays an important role of the morphology and photoluminescence of the nanostructures. Study on this indium doped ZnO nanomaterials may open a door for realizing the application in engineering bright emitters and phosphors in the visible spectrum.