Kinetically controlled catalytic formation of zinc oxide thin films at low temperature.
We developed a unique method to produce ZnO thin films by kinetically controlled catalytic hydrolysis of a molecular precursor at low temperature, operating in conjunction with the vectorial control of crystal growth. Using a system in which the diffusion of a volatile catalyst into a solution of molecular precursor of the metal oxide limits the rate of hydrolysis and establishes a gradient of catalyst concentration, we investigated the nucleation of textured nanoparticles at the gas-liquid interface and characterized their subsequent growth. Use of this slow diffusion method combined with prediction of molecular species using a partial charge model enables a higher level of organizational control than obtained in other low-temperature synthesis methods, without the use of organic molecules. Various metal oxides and their morphologies and chemical compositions can be tailored for specific applications using this relatively simple approach.
Kisailus
David
D
HRL Labs LLC, 3011 Malibu Canyon Road, Malibu, California 90265, USA.
Schwenzer
Birgit
B
Gomm
John
J
Weaver
James C
JC
Morse
Daniel E
DE
D002384:Catalysis; D003080:Cold Temperature; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D007700:Kinetics; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
D015034:Zinc Oxide