Growth of ZnO prisms on self-source substrate

ZnO whisker arrays have been prepared by a self-source procedure of the substrate under hydrothermal conditions. Zinc foils were used as a substrate and zinc-ion source for direct growth of ZnO whiskers. SEM observations revealed that the as-prepared ZnO whiskers exhibit hexagonal prism-like shape showing well-defined crystallographic facets and hexagonal pyramid-like sharp tips. The growth of ZnO whiskers in the initial stage has been recorded, and the growth mechanism was discussed in detail.