The effect of morphology and functionalization on UV detection properties of ZnO networked tetrapods and single nanowires

Abstract

Rapid detection and fast response of nanoelectronic devices based on semiconducting oxides is nowadays a modern and stringent subject of research. Device performances depend mainly on the morphologies of the metal oxide nanostructures. In the scope of this work, the influence of the structural morphology of three-dimensional (3-D) ZnO nano- and microstructured networks on the room temperature UV detection properties is studied in detail. We show that the formation of multiple potential barriers between the nanostructures, as well as the diameter of the nanostructures, which is in the same order of magnitude as the Debye length, strongly influence the UV sensing properties.