Effect of deposition time on the morphology of zinc oxide microstructures grown via chemical vapor deposition

Abstract

Zinc oxide microstructures were successfully synthesized via chemical vapor deposition operated at ambient pressure using zinc oxide and graphite powders as precursors. The study focused on the effect of deposition time on the morphology of zinc oxide structures. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and x-ray diffractometry (XRD) were used to characterize the samples. The synthesized zinc oxide microstructures were of hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure as confirmed by the x-ray diffractometry. The SEM images show that the synthesized structures were forms of tetrapods and rods with tetrapods the prevailing structures especially at longer deposition time. Results showed denser and longer tetrapod legs formed at the surface and less dense tetrapods with smaller leg size formed underneath.