Template Assisted Growth of Zinc Oxide-Based Nanowires by Electrochemical Deposition

Ordered ZnO and Zn1 – xCdxO nanowire/nanorod arrays were fabricated by cathodic electrodeposition based on anodic alumina (AAO) membrane and polycarbonate membrane (PCM) from an aqueous solution containing zinc nitrate precursor at different bath temperatures. The electrodeposition process involves the electroreduction of nitrate ions to alter the local pH within the pores and precipitation of the metal oxide within the pores. X-Ray diffraction measurements showed that the nanowires/nanorods were of wurtzite crystallographic structures and the average length and diameter of nanorods were measured by SEM and TEM. HRTEM measurements confirm the crystallinity and elemental composition of grown nanowires on PCM/AAO templates.