Relative photoluminescence of ZnO nanorods size-controlled by changing the precursor ratio in metal organic chemical vapor deposition

The photoluminescent (PL) properties of vertically and laterally well-oriented ZnO nanorod arrays (NRAs) synthesized by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on Al₂O₃ (0001) substrates were investigated. The size of the NRAs was controlled by systematic tuning of the precursor ratio. Regardless of the size of the NRAs, the PL properties were the same when measured at room temperature and at low temperatures. This observation suggests that changing the precursor ratio is a good way of controlling the size of ZnO NRAs while maintaining consistent PL properties.