Structural, optical and electrical properties of electrodeposited Sb-Doped ZnO nanorod arrays

Sb-doped ZnO nanorod arrays were fabricated using electrochemical solution method with suitable combination of Zn(NO₃)₂, hexamine and SbCl₃. Cyclic voltammetry was performed to determine the suitable deposition potential range. The influences of various growth parameters on the structural and optical properties of Sb-doped ZnO nanorods were studied in detail. The applied potential was found to have a great effect on the shape, the crystalline quality and the Sb doping level of the Sb-doped ZnO nanorod. Both the increase of the Zn(NO₃)₂ concentration and the addition of SbCl₃ were found to promote the nucleation of Sb-doped ZnO. But the addition of SbCl₃ can also retard subsequent nanorod growth and thus influence the nanorod diameter. To achieve the highly-textured Sb-doped ZnO nanorod arrays with a high Sb doping level, high pH values should be avoided and the substrate with an Al-doped ZnO top layer is a good choice. Based on the above investigation, the growth mechanism of the Sb-doped ZnO nanorod was also discussed. Lastly, but most importantly, these Sb-doped ZnO nanorods were proved possessing p-type conductivity.