Self-assembly of densely packed and aligned bilayer ZnO nanorod arrays

We present a method of self-assembly of densely packed and aligned bilayer ZnO nanorod arrays in a hydrothermal synthesis process. The alkali hydrothermal environment first induced the growth of hydrotalcitelike zincowoodwardite plates, which provide a lattice-matched surface for the self-assembly of ZnO nanorod arrays. The high packing density of the ZnO nanorod arrays demonstrates efficient nucleation and growth processes of ZnO on the zincowoodwardite. The interfacial phenomena involved in the growth of ZnO and self-assembly are discussed. The two-dimensional arrays of ZnO nanorods may find future applications in nanoelectronics and nanophotonics.