Sn and Mg doped ZnO nanowires and nanoplates

Abstract

Sintering of ZnO-SnO_2 and ZnO-MgO mixtures, with few at. % of Sn or Mg at 1280 C under argon flaw leads to the growth of microrods on the sample surface, which are formed by oriented stacks of nanoplates. Energy dispersive spectroscopy and cathodoluminescence (CL) in the scanning electron microscope show that the stacks of nanoplates consist of Sn doped and Mg doped ZnO respectively. The stacks of nanoplates have well defined orientations relative to the growth axis of the rod. In the case of Sri the formation of the nanoplates is attributed to the stresses generated by the presence of Sri atoms in the rods.