• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.239-245
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• 2020

Synthesizing one-dimensional nanostructures of oxide semiconductors is a promising approach to fabricate highefficiency photoelectrodes for hydrogen production from photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. In this work, vertically aligned zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod arrays are successfully synthesized on fluorine-doped-tin-oxide (FTO) coated glass substrate via seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method with the use of a ZnO nanoparticle seed layer, which is formed by thermally oxidizing a sputtered Zn metal thin film. The structural, optical and PEC properties of the ZnO nanorod arrays synthesized at varying levels of Zn sputtering power are examined to reveal that the optimum ZnO nanorod array can be obtained at a sputtering power of 20 W. The photocurrent density and the optimal photocurrent conversion efficiency obtained for the optimum ZnO nanorod array photoanode are 0.13 mA/㎠ and 0.49 %, respectively, at a potential of 0.85 V vs. RHE. These results provide a promising avenue to fabricating earth-abundant ZnO-based photoanodes for PEC water oxidation using facile hydrothermal synthesis.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.237-242
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• 2018

We report on the fabrication and photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of a ZnO nanorod array structure as an efficient photoelectrode for hydrogen production from sunlight-driven water splitting. Vertically aligned ZnO nanorods were grown on an indium-tin-oxide-coated glass substrate via seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method with the use of a ZnO nanoparticle seed layer, which was formed by thermally oxidizing a sputtered Zn metal thin film. The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized ZnO nanorods were examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, as well as Raman scattering. The PEC properties of the fabricated ZnO nanorod photoelectrode were evaluated by photocurrent conversion efficiency measurements under white light illumination. From the observed PEC current density versus voltage (J-V) behavior, the vertically aligned ZnO nanorod photoelectrode was found to exhibit a negligible dark current and high photocurrent density, e.g., $0.65mA/cm^2$ at 0.8 V vs Ag/AgCl in a 1 mM $Na_2SO_4$ electrolyte. In particular, a significant PEC performance was observed even at an applied bias of 0 V vs Ag/AgCl, which made the device self-powered.

• Current Applied Physics
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1399-1402
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• 2018

Nanorod films of cobalt oxide ($Co_3O_4$) have been grown by a unique oblique angle deposition (OAD) technique in an e-beam evaporator for supercapacitor electrode applications. This technique offers a non-chemical route to achieve large aspect ratio nanorods. The fabricated electrodes at OAD $80^{\circ}$ exhibited a specific capacitance of 2875 F/g. The electrochemically active surface area was $1397cm^{-2}$, estimated from the non-Faradaic capacitive current region. Peak energy and power densities obtained for $Co_3O_4$ nanorods were 57.7 Wh/Kg and 9.5 kW/kg, respectively. The $Co_3O_4$ nanorod electrode showed a good endurance of 2000 charge-discharge cycles with 62% retention. The OAD approach for fabricating supercapacitor nanostructured electrodes can be exploited for the fabrication of a broad range of metal oxide materials.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.79.2-79.2
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• 2012

In this work, vertically aligned metal oxide nanorods(ZnO, $TiO_2$, $WO_3$) were grown onto CuO film at the room temperature. The fabricated nanorods of 90nm~500nm diameter range and $1{\mu}m{\sim}15{\mu}m$ of length range. Growth of metal oxide nanorods only depends on thickness of CuO film in this method, and it is grown at both of room temperature and high temperature. That means, it is much faster mathod to make the vertical metal oxide nanorods than old method such as hydrothermal method.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.640-645
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• 2010

This paper describes the power generating property of hydrothermally grown ZnO nanorods on a flexible polyethersulfone (PES) substrate. The piezoelectric currents generated by the ZnO nanorods were measured when bending the ZnO nanorod by using I-AFM, and the measured piezoelectric currents ranged from 60 to 100 pA. When the PtIr coated tip bends a ZnO nanorod, piezoelectrical asymmetric potential is created on the nanorod surface. The Schottky barrier at the ZnO-metal interface accumulates elecntrons and then release very quickly generating the currents when the tip moves from tensile to compressed part of ZnO nanorod. These ZnO nanorods were grown almost vertically with the length of 300-500 nm and the diameter of 30-60 nm on the Ag/Ti/PES substrate at $90^{\circ}C$ for 6 hours by hydrothermal method. The metal-semiconductor interface property was evaluated by using a HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer and the piezoelectric effect of the ZnO nanorods were evaluated by using an I-AFM. From the measured I-V characteristics, it was observed that ZnO-Ag and ZnO-Au metal-semiconductor interfaces showed an ohmic and a Schottky contact characteristics, respectively. ANSYS finite element simulation was performed in order to understand the power generation mechanism of the ZnO nanorods under applied external stress theoretically.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.260-266
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• 2021

Synthesizing low-dimensional structures of oxide semiconductors is a promising approach to fabricate highly efficient gas sensors by means of possible enhancement in surface-to-volume ratios of their sensing materials. In this work, vertically aligned zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods are successfully synthesized on a transparent glass substrate via seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method with the use of a ZnO nanoparticle seed layer, which is formed by thermally oxidizing a sputtered Zn metal film. Structural and optical characterization by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy reveals the successful preparation of the ZnO nanorods array of the single hexagonal wurtzite crystalline phase. From gas sensing measurements for the nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) gas, the vertically aligned ZnO nanorod array is observed to have a highly responsive sensitivity to NO₂ gas at relatively low concentrations and operating temperatures, especially showing a high maximum sensitivity to NO₂ at 250 ℃ and a low NO₂ detection limit of 5 ppm in dry air. These results along with a facile fabrication process demonstrate that the ZnO nanorods synthesized on a transparent glass substrate are very promising for low-cost and high-performance NO₂ gas sensors.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.219-226
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• 2023

Utilizing low-dimensional structures of oxide semiconductors is a promising approach to fabricate relevant gas sensors by means of potential enhancement in surface-to-volume ratios of their sensing materials. In this work, vertically aligned cupric oxide (CuO) nanorods are successfully synthesized on a transparent glass substrate via seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method with the use of a CuO nanoparticle seed layer, which is formed by thermally oxidizing a sputtered Cu metal film. Structural and optical characterization by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy reveals the successful preparation of the CuO nanorods array of the single monoclinic tenorite crystalline phase. From gas sensing measurements for the nitrogen monoxide (NO) gas, the vertically aligned CuO nanorod array is observed to have a highly responsive sensitivity to NO gas at relatively low concentrations and operating temperatures, especially showing a high maximum sensitivity to NO at 200 ℃ and a low NO detection limit of 2 ppm in dry air. These results along with a facile fabrication process demonstrate that the CuO nanorods synthesized on a transparent glass substrate are very promising for low-cost and high-performance NO gas sensors.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 2009

Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanorods arrays were deposited on ZnO buffered p-Si(100) substrates by hydrothermal method. The ZnO buffer layer with a thickness of 30 nm was deposited by metal oxide chemical vapor deposition at $500^{\circ}C$. The structural and optical properties of ZnO nanorods arrays controlled by precursor concentrations from 0.06 to 0.5 M were studied by FE-SEM(field emission scanning electron microscopy), XRD(X-ray diffraction), and PL(photoluminescence), respectively. It was found that the structural and optical properties of ZnO nanorods arrays are changed significantly with increase of precursor concentration. The sizes of diameter and length of nanorods were increased as the concentration increase, and good optical property was shown with the concentration of 0.3 M.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.296-296
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• 2013

Supercapacitor is a capacitor with extraordinarily high energy density, which basically consists of current collector, active material and electrolyte. Ruthenium oxide ($RuO_2$) is one of the most widely studied active materials due to its high specific capacitance and good electrical conductivity. In general, it is known that the coating of $RuO_2$ on nanoarchitectured current collector shows improved performance of energy storage device compared to the coating on the planar current collector. Especially, the surface structure with standing coaxial nanopillars are most desirable since it can provide direct paths for efficient charge transport along the axial paths of each nanopillars and the inter-nanopillar spacing allows easy access of electrolyte ions. However, well-known fabrication methods for metal or metal oxide nanopillars, such as the process using anodize aluminum oxide (AAO) templates, often require long and complicated nanoprocess.In this work, we developed relatively simple method fabricating indium tin oxide (ITO) nanopillars via sputtering. We also electrodeposited $RuO_2$ nanoparticles onto these ITO nanopillars and investigated its physical and electrochemical properties.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.171.2-171.2
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• 2015

Nowadays, trivalent rare-earth ($RE^{3+}$) ions activated metal oxides have been proved to be excellent host materials due to their various applications. Facile wet-chemical technique have been considered as the best synthetic route due its intensive interest in the preparation of nanostructures. Europium ion doped lanthanum hydroxide ($La(OH)_3:Eu^{3+}$) phosphors were synthesized by the facile wet chemical method using the hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) as a mediated surfactant. The thermal behavior for the $La(OH)_3:Eu^{3+}$ phosphors was investigated by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis method. The morphological studies were measured by scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope measurements, indicating three-dimensional (3D) flower-like $La(OH)_3:Eu^{3+}$ nanorod bundles. After subsequent annealing process, the lanthanum oxide ($La_2O_3:Eu^{3+}$) phosphor exhibited similar kind of morphology. The synthesized $La(OH)_3:Eu^{3+}$ and $La_2O_3:Eu^{3+}$ samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence properties were studied in details.