Growth mechanisms of solution-grown one-dimensional semiconductor structures on patterned substrates

We investigate the growth mechanisms of hydrothermally prepared ZnO nanorod arrays on patterned substrates in continuous-flow reactors. Unlike conventional batch reactors, in the continuous-flow reactors the solution supersaturation can be accurately controlled, which allows for the comparison of experimental results with fundamental crystal growth theories and for the identification of the growth mechanisms. The growth mechanisms and growth conditions are correlated with structural, electrical, and optical properties of the nanorods. Ordered periodic arrays of ZnO nanorods are grown on substrates patterned by electron and ion beams and the impact of the pattern geometry on their growth is studied.