Effect of Sn Dopant on the Properties of ZnO Nanorod Arrays

Sn-doped ZnO nanorod arrays were synthesized by a novel method combining the aqueous solution process with post-growth rapid photothermal processing (RPP). The post-growth RPP of Sn-doped ZnO nanostrnctures at 700 degC in vacuum was found to result in a drastic decrease of the near-bandgap photoluminescence intensity. A comparison of the impact of RPP in Sn and AI doped samples is performed and the reasons of near-bandgap photoluminescence intensity decrease in Sn-doped samples are discussed.