Influence of ZnO nanorod morphology on optical confinement--finite-difference time-domain numerical simulation study

We studied the influence of nanorod (NR) morphology on the optical confinement. In order to understand the optical field confinement by the ZnO NR, we obtained the spatial intensity distribution inside/outside the NR by solving Maxwell equations using the finite-difference time-domain numerical simulation. The hexagonal cylinder-shaped NR exhibits a strong confinement and the circular cylinder-shaped NR shows also similar confinement effect. Meanwhile, the rectangular cylinder-shaped NR, the tapered NR, and the NR with sharp cone show a weak confinement of optical field as compared to that of the hexagonal cylinder-shaped NR. Next, as the rod length and/or the rod diameter increase, the high intensity region increases. This suggests that longer nanorod will exhibit more efficient lasing action.