Structural, Optical and Electrical Properties of Electrodeposited Sb-Doped ZnO Nanorod Arrays

Sb-doped ZnO nanorod arrays were fabricated using electrochemical solution method with suitable combination of Zn(NO3)2, hexamine and SbCl3. Cyclic voltammetry was performed to determine the suitable deposition potential range. The influences of various growth parameters on the structural and optical properties of Sb-doped ZnO nanorods were studied in detail. The applied potential was found to have a great effect on the shape, the crystalline quality and the Sb doping level of the Sb-doped ZnO nanorod. Both the increase of the Zn(NO3)2 concentration and the addition of SbCl3 were found to promote the nucleation of Sb-doped ZnO. But the addition of SbCl3 can also retard subsequent nanorod growth and thus influence the nanorod diameter. To achieve the highly-textured Sb-doped ZnO nanorod arrays with a high Sb doping level, high pH values should be avoided and the substrate with an Al-doped ZnO top layer is a good choice. Based on the above investigation, the growth mechanism of the Sb-doped ZnO nanorod was also discussed. Lastly, but most importantly, these Sb-doped ZnO nanorods were proved possessing p-type conductivity.