Defect annihilation and morphological improvement of hydrothermally grown ZnO nanorods by Ga doping

One dimensional zinc oxide nanostructures were grown by a low temperature hydrothermal process. Effects of Ga doping on the growth, crystallization, and defect distribution in them were studied by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, photoluminescence, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. It has been shown that Ga doping improves the morphological homogeneity and optical properties of ZnO nanostructures. Improved morphology of the doped nanostructures have been associated with the catalytic effect of Ga. Effects of Ga doping on the quenching of defect emission and improvement of excitonic emission in ZnO nanostructures are discussed.