Controllable synthesis of undoped/Cd-doped ZnO nanostructures

Various undoped/Cd-doped ZnO nanostructures have been synthesized through a simple evaporating method. The gold particles-filled anodic aluminum oxide templates and catalyst-free graphite sheet were used as substrates. The morphologies of the products can be controlled by simply tuning the evaporation temperature of zinc and gases flow rates. Moreover, morphological difference between the undoped and Cd-doped ZnO nanostructures is presented. These as-grown ZnO nanostructures could be nanowires, nanobelts, nanoneedles, nanocombs, and saw-like structures, wherein in the saw-like ZnO structure was firstly found to originate nanowires on its rough lateral side. Room-temperature photoluminescence measurement shows strong green emissions from the ZnO nanostructures.