Facile synthesis of Zn1−xCuxO nanorods with a very broad visible band

Zn1−xCuxO nanorods with different Cu concentrations are prepared by a hydrothermal method. Bent and aggregated nanorods are obtained, which is attributed to centripetal surface tension of the evaporation and coagulation processes of the water film on the ZnO nanorods. The broad visible band consists of one violet, three blue, and one green emission. The violet emission is due to the transition of electrons from zinc interstitial (Zni) levels to the valance band. The three blue emissions may be attributed to the transition from extended Zni levels, which are slightly below the simple Zni level, to the valance band. The change of the green emission may be the result of competition between oxygen vacancies (VO) and zinc vacancies (VZn).