Fabrication of highly ordered ZnO nanowire arrays in anodic alumina membranes

Highly ordered ZnO nanowire arrays were fabricated by oxidizing the metal Zn that was electrodeposited in the pores of anodic alumina membranes (AAMs). The diameters of ZnO nanowires range from 15 to 90 nm. Atomic force microscope, x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy observations indicate the polycrystalline ZnO nanowires were uniformly assembled into the hexagonally-arranged nanochannels of the AAM. A green emission band caused by the singly ionized oxygen vacancy in the ZnO nanowires was also reported.