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Direct Growth of Aligned Zinc Oxide Nanorods on Paper Substrates

Process Database

A method for the controlled direct growth of highly crystalline ZnO nanorods on a paper substrate is described. Despite the complexity and surface roughness which paper naturally presents, adequate surface modification enhances ZnO nanorod alignment and uniformity in growth. Large scale synthesis is also demonstrated. Hybrid PN junction diodes, also on paper substrates, show application toward flexible electronics.

Contributors: 

Afsal Manekkathodi, Ming-Yen Lu, Chun Wen Wang, and Lih-Juann Chen

Lab: 

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University

Depositor: 
Martin Muthee
Manufactured Material or Structure: 
Zinc Oxide Nanorods
Chemical Composition: 
Zinc Oxide
Physical Form: 
Nanorods/Nanoneedles
ZnO nanorods on paper substrate. Image reproduced with permission from Manekkathodi, et. al. 2010. Direct Growth of Aligned Zinc Oxide Nanorods on Paper Substrates for Low-Cost Flexible Electronics. Advanced Materials 22(36): 4059-4063. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.201001289.
ZnO nanorods on paper substrate. Image reproduced with permission from Manekkathodi, et. al. 2010. Direct Growth of Aligned Zinc Oxide Nanorods on Paper Substrates for Low-Cost Flexible Electronics. Advanced Materials 22(36): 4059-4063. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.201001289.
Step 1:

Cut clean paper to the desired size.

Step 2:

A: (Surface Modification) Deposit Gold/Si using non ultra high vacuum e-beam deposition.
or B: (Seeding Layer) Spin coat a thin ZnO film 10-15 times using a 5-10mM solution of Zinc Acetate (~100nm layer of ZnO)

Step 3:

Dry the substrate at room temperature for 3 minutes.

Step 4:

Heat the substrate at 90C to remove excess moisture and other residuals.

Step 5:

Dry the substrates at room temperature.

The following steps are used to create hybrid PN junctions,using ZnO nanorods grown on a paper substrate with a 50nm Gold layer.

Step 6:

Spin a PMMA layer to fill in gaps between nanorods.

Step 7:

Perform O2 plasma etching using 20sccm Argon and 40sccm Oxygen at 180W RF power.

Step 8:

Spin coat a layer of PEDOT:PSS to a thickness 0.5-1um thick.

Step 9:

Paste a thin Silver film to form the top electrode.

Schematic of a PN junction nanostructure
Schematic of a PN junction nanostructure
Process Notes: 

Quality and geometric features can be modulated by varying growth temperature, precursor or seeding solution molarity.

Raw Materials: 
  • Paper(PAPERON Multipurpose Paper, Asia Pulp and Paper Co. Ltd)
  • Zinc Acetate (98%, Aldrich)
  • Hexamethylenetetramine (99%,Aldrich)
  • Zinc Nitrate
  • Poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)
  • Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):Poly(styrenesulfonate)) PEDOT:PSS
Environmental Variables: 

Room temperature, Heating up to 90oC

Equipment Requirements: 
  • Spin Coater,
  • E-beam Evaporator
  • RIE system
References: 
Yu C. Chang and Lih J. Chen. 2007. ZnO nanoneedles with enhanced and sharp ultraviolet cathodoluminescence peak. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 111(3): 1268-1272.
DOI: 
10.1021/jp066786q
Weibing Wu, Guangda Hu, Shougang Cui, Ying Zhou, and Haitao Wu. 2008. Epitaxy of vertical ZnO nanorod arrays on highly (001)-oriented ZnO seed monolayer by a hydrothermal route. Crystal Growth & Design 8(11): 4014-4020.
DOI: 
10.1021/cg800210m
Manekkathodi A, Lu MY, Wang CW, Chen LJ. Direct growth of aligned zinc oxide nanorods on paper substrates for low-cost flexible electronics. 2010. Advanced Materials. 22(36): 4059-4063.
DOI: 
10.1002/adma.201001289
Potential Applications: 
Flexible electronics.
InterNano Taxonomy:
DOI: 
10.4053/pr069-130426