Non-layered wurtzite-type extralarge-area flexible ZnO (010) paper-like nanostructures grown by electrostatically induced vapor-phase transport

Abstract

We report the synthesis of transparent, curling, extra large-area non-layered wurtzite-type low-defect-concentration ZnO (010) nanopapers with a maximum area of over 2000 μm² and 30–60 nm in thickness via an indium-assisted vapor-phase transport (VPT) method. The ZnO nanopapers exhibit an intense ultraviolet emission band centered at about 382 nm. On reducing the substrate temperature, the morphological evolution of VPT-grown ZnO nanostructures from nanopapers to nanobelts and then to nanowires was sequentially observed, suggesting that the “one-dimensional branching and subsequent two-dimensional interspace filling” process was not necessary. Finally, based on the ZnO and Zn supersaturation state, a possible electrostatic interaction induced nanobricks alternatively interconnecting self-assembled growth mechanism of high-quality single-crystalline ZnO nanopapers is discussed.