title: Understanding the selective etching of electrodeposited ZnO nanorods.
abstract: ZnO nanotubes were prepared by selective dissolution of electrodeposited nanorods. The effect of solution pH, rod morphology, and chloride ion concentration on the dissolution mechanism was studied. The selective etching was rationalized in terms of the surface energy of the different ZnO crystal faces and reactant diffusion. The nanorod diameter and chloride concentration are the most influential parameters on the dissolution mechanism because they control homogeneous dissolution or selective etching of the (110) and (002) surfaces. Bulk solution pH only has an effect on the rate of dissolution. By accurate control of the dissolution process, the nanomorphology can be tailored, and the formation of rods with a thin diameter (10-20 nm), cavity, or ultra-thin-walled tubes (2-5 nm) can be achieved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials and London Centre for Nanotechnology, Imperial College London , London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Benoit N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Illy
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ingham
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Toney
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nandhakumar
authors.forename: Mary P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ryan