Network array of zinc oxide whiskers

Abstract

A zinc oxide (ZnO) whisker network array with sixfold symmetry was

fabricated on ZnO-buffered (0001) sapphire substrate by the vapour-phase

transport method using a mixture of zinc oxide and graphite powders as

source materials and patterned gold as catalyst. From the ZnO buffer layer,

hexagonal ZnO nanorods with identical in-plane structure grew epitaxially

along the [0001] orientation to form vertical stems. The branches grew

horizontally from six side-surfaces of the vertical stem along [01¯10] and

other equivalent directions. Most whiskers were confined along the six

preferential orientations and interconnected with each other to form a

regular network structure. The growth mechanism is discussed.