ZnO well-faceted fibers with periodic junctions

ZnO well-faceted microfibers with periodic junctions were prepared by an evaporation and deposition process. The junctions with spacings of 5-30 mum presented concavo-concave morphologies, and the spacings could be changed with the growth conditions. The anisotropic growth mechanism was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The photoluminescence (PL) and PL microscopy studies showed the structure-related optical character and that the well-faceted and modulated fibers could serve as microscale waveguides and emit enhanced green lights at the junctions under UV excitation. These functional structures should make possible the creation of microscale light-emitting arrays as well as bar codes used in biotechnology and electronics.