UV Enhanced Field Emission Performance of Mg-Doped ZnO Nanorods

Vertical Mg-ZnO nanorods were synthesized on glass substrates using a low-temperature hydrothermal method. The field emission performance of Mg-ZnO nanorods was greatly enhanced by UV light illumination. It was found that the Mg-ZnO nanorods grown at 80 °C were structurally uniform and well oriented with pure wurtzite structure. Mg-ZnO nanorod exhibited turn-on fields was 2.27 V/μm, and field enhancement factors (β) was 2212. UV illumination of the Mg-ZnO nanorod reduced the turn-on electrical field from 2.27 to 1.97 V/μm and enhanced the β from 2212 and 4136.