Oriented ZnO nanoplates on Al substrate by solution growth technique

ZnO nanoplate thin films have been synthesized by a one-step solution technique in a surfactant-free system. The structure and morphology of the fabricated ZnO nanoplates were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. These network-like nanoplates were dispersed quasi-vertically and homogenously on aluminum substrates. The size of ZnO nanoplate was depended on the reaction temperature. Increasing the reaction temperature would result in much thicker and wider ZnO nanoplates. The density of ZnO nanoplates was determined by zinc concentration. Under high temperature, these ZnO nanoplates tended to recrystallization and its density would decrease. Photoluminescence properties of the as-prepared and annealed ZnO nanoplate films were studied in this work.