Synthesis and characterization of well-aligned ZnO:Sb nanowires

Vertically-aligned ZnO nanowires on a sapphire substrate have been synthesized by a nanoparticle-assisted pulsed-laser deposition using a Sb₂O₃ doped ZnO target. Uniform cone-shape core was formed at the bottom of each vertically-aligned ZnO nanowire. The nanowires consist of single-crystalline wurzite ZnO crystal with a growth direction along [0001]. The room-temperature photo luminescence spectrum exhibited a strong ultraviolet emission at around 380 nm.