Mechanistic study of ZnO nanorod array electrodeposition

The growth of ZnO nanorods by electrodeposition from oxygenated aqueous mixture of zinc chloride and potassium chloride is studied experimentally as a function of the deposition time, zinc concentration and the substrate. These parameters influence markedly the characteristics of the deposits (rod density, aspect ratio, orientation). A mechanistic model is presented in order to explain the formation of ZnO nanorod arrays by electrodeposition. The model is based on the effect of zinc concentration on the interfacial pH at the electrode surface and then on the charged stable zinc species able to react with the growing film. The charge of the complex seems to be the key parameter which stops the lateral growth and then significantly increases the aspect ratio of the single crystalline nanorods. (c) 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim