Influence of copper on the morphology and properties of one dimensional ZnO nanorod structures

•Cu doped zinc oxide nanorod thin films have been prepared by simple sol–gel dip coating method.•SEM images revealed that Cu doped ZnO have bunch-like nanorod assembly.•The photoluminescence spectra of the samples were recorded at room temperature.

Cu doped zinc oxide nanorod thin films have been prepared by simple sol–gel dip coating method. The X-ray diffraction pattern shows that the ZnO nanorod and Cu doped ZnO nanorod thin film samples exhibit hexagonal wurtzite structure. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the ZnO samples have aligned nanorod arrangement and Cu doped ZnO have bunch-like nanorod assembly. The energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis confirmed the presence Cu in the ZnO thin films. The presence of functional groups and the chemical bonding has been studied using FTIR spectra. The photoluminescence spectra (PL) of the samples were recorded at room temperature. Ultraviolet emission peak and green emission peak were observed for the Cu doped ZnO samples.