Randomly oriented ZnO nanowires grown on amorphous SiO2 by metal-catalyzed vapour deposition

Randomly oriented ZnO nanowire (NW) networks have been grown on thermal SiO2 substrates by the simple carbothermal reaction-assisted thermal evaporation of ZnO. One-dimensional growth was achieved with the aid of Au nanocluster catalysts dispersed on the substrates. The structures were studied by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The NW diameters and lengths were found to strongly …