Electrodeposition of ZnO nanorods on opaline replica as hierarchically structured systems

We present a new method to prepare hierarchical structures by using ZnO replica and ZnO-coated PMMA opals as electrodes in an electrodeposition process of ZnO nanorods. Depending on the approach the nanorods can be either grown exclusively on top of the replica or inside the replica structures. Therefore two types of systems are accessible: 3D photonic crystals with a hierarchically structured surface consisting of nanorods and macroporous ZnO structures with an increased surface area.