title: Electrochemical deposition of ZnO nanostructures. mechanism of growth.
abstract: The growth kinetics of ZnO nanorods were studied by means of an electrochemical deposition process on ITO electrodes submerged in an aqueous solution of 5 mM ZCl+0.1 M KCl at 80 degrees C. The stages of the growth kinetics showed a mechanism of formation of nano-spheres which with time were transformed into hexagonal crystals of ZnO. Cathodic current densities of 0.1 to 1 mAcm2 formed hexagonal columns of 800 nm thickness while stronger currents formed a high-density layer of cylindrical nanorods 80 nm in diameter. An amorphous barrier layer was found between the surface of the electrode and the base of the nano-columns. The conditions assayed showed the possibility of adjusting the morphological characteristics of the layer in order to obtain different properties in different applications.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Tecnología de Materiales, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camí de Vera s/n, E-46022, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rayón
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrer