Chemical vapor deposition-based growth of aligned ZnO nanowires on polycrystalline Zn2GeO4:Mn substrates

ZnO nanowires have been grown on polycrystalline Zn2GeO4:Mn substrates for the first time using a chemical vapor deposition method. Both Zn and ZnO sources were used to supply Zn vapor in the growth process of ZnO nanowires. The Zn2GeO4:Mn substrates were prepared using solid-state ceramic synthesis methods, and average grain sizes of ~1 μm were achieved. The nanowires of diameters in the range of 100–200 nm and length of ~30 μm were observed. In addition to nanowires, other morphologies of ZnO nanostructures, such as ZnO tetrapods, were observed when Zn powder was used as the source for the CVD growth. The results reveal that polycrystalline substrates are also promising as novel alternative substrates for growth of ZnO nanostructures. The as-synthesized ZnO nanowire/Zn2GeO4:Mn composites are being developed for future electroluminescent devices.