Growth behavior and photoluminescence properties of ZnO nanowires on gold nano-particle coated Si surfaces

ZnO nanowires arrays were synthesized on gold coated Si by the hydrothermal technique. The density of the ZnO nanowires array is found to be inversely proportional to the particle size of gold films. The initial nucleation of ZnO nanowires is found to nucleate at the boundaries of the gold nano-particle films. The density of the ZnO nanowires can be controlled through the particle size of the gold nano-particle films. Anomalous photoluminescence properties were observed from the as-grown ZnO nanowires.

► Density of hydrothermal-grown ZnO nanowires can be controlled by the sputtering time of the underneath gold films.
► Density of the ZnO nanowires array is inversely proportional to the particle size of gold films.
► The initial nucleation of ZnO nanowires occurs at the boundaries of the gold nano-particle films.
► The photoluminescent spectra are related to the surface properties of the nanowires.