Ag Nanoparticle-Decorated ZnO Nanorod Arrays: Synthesis, Growth Mechanism, and Properties

摘要

Ag nanoparticle (NPs)-decorated ZnO nanorod arrays have been successfully prepared by a facile solution method on indium tin oxides glass at relative low temperature. Ag NPs with a diameter range of 40-50 nm are assembled uniformly on the surface of ZnO nanorods with a length of 2.5-3 p,m and diameter of 70-85 nm. Silver monomers were directly deposited on the ZnO nanorods and grown into Ag NPs. The nucleation of Ag can occur both in solution and on ZnO nanorods during deposition. The concentrations of silver nitrate and polyvinylpyrrolidone were precisely adjusted to investigate the effect of the reactant amount on the morphology of silver NP-decorated ZnO nanorod arrays. According to the results, the growth mechanism of Ag/ZnO nanorods composite was proposed. The photoluminescence of samples indicates that the charge separation effect is strengthened after depositing Ag NPs on the ZnO nanorod arrays. This facile synthesis method displayed here can also be developed to fabricate other ZnO based noble metal or semiconductor heterostructu res.