Epitaxial chemical deposition of ZnO nanocolumns from NaOH solutions

A new method of depositing expitaxial ZnO nanocolumns on sputter-coated ZnO substrates is described that utilizes supersaturated zincate species in sodium hydroxide solutions and requires no complexing agents. Uniform arrays of columns are grown reproducibly over entire substrates in 10-50 min. Columns are 50-2000 nm long and 50-100 nm wide. Strict substrate cleaning and/or preparation was not necessary with this method, in contrast to many other techniques, probably because the high pH generates a reproducible surface. The interfacial properties of the substrate are critical to lowering the activation energy for columnar growth; therefore films grow only on substrates precoated with ZnO, not on bare glass or ITO- or SnO2-coated glass. Factors affecting the column growth are elucidated, and experimental observations are correlated with crystal growth theory.