Abstract
Scanning electron microscopic study of ZnO crystallites. / A. Jishiashvili, Z. Shiolashvili, D. Jishiashvili, N. Makhatadze, A. Chirakadze, V. Gobronidze. / Nano Studies. – 2020. – # 20. – pp. 105-110. – eng. The wide band-gap semiconductor – zinc oxide finds broad applications due to its unique electrical, optical, and biomedical properties. This work deals with a new method of synthesis. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphology and composition of a layer produced on the Si substrate after deposition of volatile species produced by pyrolytic decomposition of CuO, ZnO, and NH4Cl source powders. Heating of the source at 650°C caused the formation of hexagonal ZnO crystallites with maximum diameters and heights up to tens of micrometers. Energy dispersive spectroscopy and selected area electron diffraction confirmed the synthesis of wurtzite structured ZnO, which was growing along the c-axis. ZnO crystallites were growing only in the presence of CuO in the source powder. We proposed that ZnO was nucleated from the molten copper chloride salts after over-saturating with Zn and oxygen. The further growth of ZnO was performed by the vapor phase growth using precursors formed after pyrolysis of source powders. Fig. 5, Tab. 1, Ref. 17.