Abstract

Crystalline hexagonal wurtzite nanowires of ZnO were prepared by thermal evaporation method from zinc foil with zinc microparticles in air atmosphere. The nanowires have been characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis absorption and room temperature photoluminescence (PL). SEM and STEM images show that as-obtained ZnO nanowires have diameters in the range between 40 nm and 60 nm and length up to 30 m. The Raman spectrum of the ZnO nanowires were obtained and compared with the corresponding spectrum of the bulk ZnO. The optical band gap is found to be 3.34 eV. PL measurements show that the nanowires present a strong UV emission peak at 487 nm (2.54 eV) accompanied by other peaks of relatively lower intensities. This emission is due to the existence of various defects in the fabricated nanowires. These nanowires have potential in applications such as optoelectronics.