ZnO nanostructures grown by vapour-liquid-solid (VLS) method

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a very promising material for diverse applications in electronics, optoelectronics, spintronics, transparent thin film transistors, high power devices and so on. ZnO and Mn doped ZnO nanostructures with different morphologies were grown via vapour-liquid-solid (VLS) method. Morphological, optical and magnetic behaviour studies were carried out using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), micro-Raman, photoluminescence (PL) and vibrating sample magnetometer techniques, respectively. FE-SEM studies revealed the formation of nanowires, nanopillars, nanosheets of ZnO crystals. Raman measurements confirmed the formation of ZnO phase. PL measurements revealed a strong green emission at 536 nm exposing the oxygen deficiency in the ZnO nanostructures. Mn doping was found to affect the morphological, optical and magnetic properties of ZnO nanostructures. Mn doped ZnO nanoneedles exhibited ferromagnetism at room temperature. The significant changes in the properties of ZnO nanostructures after Mn doping are discussed in detail.