Nanometer-scale sharpening and surface roughening of ZnO nanorods by argon ion bombardment

► A single crystalline ZnO nanorod array was bombarded by a beam of 50 keV argon ions. ► Ion bombardment produces a nanoscale roughening of the nanorod sidewalls. ► It also causes the flat nanorod tips to get sharpened to ultrafine points. ► Both effects are expected to favorably impact a wide variety of applications.