Tailoring and modifications of a ZnO nanostructure surface by the layer-by-layer deposition technique

Different ZnO nanostructures have been modified using the layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte deposition process. The polymer multilayers were deposited on free standing ZnO tetrapods, ZnO tetrapods on a substrate and ZnO nanorod arrays. In addition, attachment of metallic (Au) nanoparticles to the ZnO nanostructure surface using layer-by-layer deposition was demonstrated. The properties of the ZnO nanostructures with modified surfaces were investigated by electron microscopy, absorption and photoluminescence measurements. A linear increase in polymer thickness with the number of polymer multilayers was confirmed by absorption and transmission electron microscopy. The technique can be readily extended to different nanoparticles and different morphologies of ZnO.