Enhanced UV-detection properties of carbon nanotube impregnated ZnO nanourchins

The bare and carbon nanotube (CNT) impregnated zinc oxide (ZnO) nano-urchins were synthesized by chemical precipitation process from a super-saturated zinc nitrate bath. The synthesized samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry and Raman spectroscopy. Ultra-violet photo-detection properties of the nanostructures were studied and compared with commercial ZnO nanopowder by fabricating a metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) array in a purpose built apparatus. Although the different applied seed for chemical precipitation (ZnO nanoparticles and Carbon nanotube) yielded same nano-urchin morphology, the size of the needles of CNT impregnated ZnO nanourchin was substantially bigger than that of bare ZnO nanourchin. By incorporation of CNTs, the fast electron/hole recombination and slow electrons mobility of the bare ZnO nanoparticles was improved and consequently led to the stronger UV detecting performance (up to 34 times photosensitivity, photoresponsivity of 2.1 A/W, signal to noise of 47.29 dB in time of response of 16 s) which proposed it as a worthwhile choice for practical applications.