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Defect-dominated optical emission and enhanced ultraviolet photoconductivity properties of ZnO nanorods synthesized by simple and catalyst-free approach

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Abstract

We report on the defect-dominated light emission and ultraviolet (UV) photoconductivity characteristics of ZnO nanorods (NRs) fabricated using a facile, cost-effective, and catalyst-free thermal decomposition route under varying reaction temperatures. The morphological and structural studies reveal the formation of homogeneous quality nanorods in large scale at the highest reaction temperature of 600 ∘C. The luminescence feature of the nanorods is dominated by the defect related emission over the typical band edge emission. The variation of band-edge and native defect-related emission response of the samples has been correlated to the morphology and microstructure. In photoconductivity studies, the I–V characteristics of the ZnO NRs prepared at different reaction temperatures in dark and under UV illumination (λ=365 nm) follow the power law, i.e., IαV r. An enhanced ultraviolet photodetection has been observed in the nanorods fabricated at the highest reaction temperature of 600 ∘C. The sample prepared at highest reaction temperature of 600 ∘C exhibits UV photosensitivity value (photo-to-dark current ratio) of around 1.18×103, which is much higher in magnitude compared to that of the samples prepared at lower reaction temperatures. The enhanced photoconductivity may be assigned to the development of uniformity and homogeneity of the nanorods. Further development of such ZnO nanostructures can form the basis of promising prototype luminescent and UV photodetecting devices.

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Acknowledgements

The authors S.K.M. and S.B. are grateful to Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP), Kolkata, India, for providing financial assistance under post-doctoral research program. The authors are also thankful to Prof. A.C. Pandey for making XRD and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy measurements at the Nanotechnology Application Centre, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Surface Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata, 700064, India

    Sheo K. Mishra, Sayan Bayan & Purushottam Chakraborty

  2. Department of Electronics and Communication, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, 211002, India

    Rajneesh K. Srivastava

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  1. Sheo K. Mishra
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  2. Sayan Bayan
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Correspondence to Sheo K. Mishra.

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Mishra, S.K., Bayan, S., Chakraborty, P. et al. Defect-dominated optical emission and enhanced ultraviolet photoconductivity properties of ZnO nanorods synthesized by simple and catalyst-free approach. Appl. Phys. A 115, 1193–1203 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-013-7959-x

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