title: Optical, field-emission, and antimicrobial properties of ZnO nanostructured films deposited at room temperature by activated reactive evaporation.
abstract: ZnO nanostructures were deposited on flexible polymer sheet and cotton fabrics at room temperature by activated reactive evaporation. Room-temperature photoluminescence spectrum of ZnO nanostructured film exhibited a week intrinsic UV emission and a strong broad yellow-orange visible emission. TEM and HRTEM studies show that the grown nanostructures are crystalline in nature and their growth direction was identified to be along [002]. ZnO nanostructures grown on the copper-coated flexible polymer sheets exhibited stable field-emission characteristics with a threshold voltage of 2.74 V/mum (250 muA) and a very large field enhancement factor (beta) of 23,213. Cotton fabric coated with ZnO nanostructures show an excellent antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (Gram positive), and approximately 73% reduction in the bacterial population is achieved compared to uncoated fabrics after 4 h in viability. Using a shadow mask technique, we also selectively deposited the nanostructures at room temperature on polymer substrates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Instrumentation, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yuvaraj
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaushik
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narasimha Rao