Structural and photoluminescent properties of Ni doped ZnO nanorod arrays prepared by hydrothermal method

► Ni doped ZnO nanorod arrays were synthesized by hydrothermal method. ► The position of their NBE peaks redshifts with the increase of Ni doping concentration. ► Ni-doping is beneficial to the enhancement of the crystal quality of ZnO nanorods. ► Ni-doping is also helpful to enhance photoluminescence of ZnO nanorods. ► The high excitation power is helpful to excite the impurity state related emissions.