Method to reduce the formation of crystallites in ZnO nanorod thin-films grown via ultra-fast microwave heating

Gray, R. J.; Jaafar, Ayoub H.; Verrelli, E.; Kemp, N. T.

Abstract

© 2018 This paper discusses the nucleation and growth mechanisms of ZnO nanorod thin-films and larger sized crystallites that form within the solution and on surfaces during an ultra-fast microwave heating growth process. In particular, the work focusses on the elimination of crystallites as this is necessary to improve thin-film uniformity and to prevent electrical short circuits between electrodes in device applications. High microwave power during the early stages of ZnO deposition was found to be a key factor in the formation of unwanted crystallites on substrate surfaces. Once formed, the crystallites, grow at a much faster rate than the nanorods and quickly dominate the thin-film structure. A new two-step microwave heating method was developed that eliminates the onset of crystallite formation, allowing the deposition of large-area nanorod thin-films that are free from crystallites. A dissolution-recrystallization mechanism is proposed to explain why this procedure is successful and we demonstrate the importance of the work in the fabrication of low-cost memristor devices.

Citation

Gray, R. J., Jaafar, A. H., Verrelli, E., & Kemp, N. T. (2018). Method to reduce the formation of crystallites in ZnO nanorod thin-films grown via ultra-fast microwave heating. Thin solid films, 662, 116-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2018.07.034

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 25, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jul 25, 2018
• Publication Date: Sep 30, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jul 26, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 26, 2019
• Journal: Thin Solid Films
• Print ISSN: 0040-6090
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 662
• Pages: 116-122
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2018.07.034
• Keywords: Materials chemistry; Electronic, optical and magnetic materials; Surfaces, coatings and films; Surfaces and interfaces; Metals and alloys
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/948449
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040609018305005?via%3Dihub