Synthesis of Exotic Zigzag ZnO Nanoribbons and Their Optical, Electrical Properties

ZnO nanoribbons with zigzag edges and ultrafine nanowire-like tips (diameter about 10 nm) were synthesized via a facile method at a relatively low temperature without any catalysts or templates. The nanoribbons are about 30 nm in thickness, 500 nm in length, and tapered in width. It is hydrogen peroxide that results in the formation of ZnO nanoribbons with zigzag edges. As an oxidant, hydrogen peroxide provides not only oxygen for the growth of ZnO nanoribbons but also water vapor for impeding the growth of the nanoribbons along [0001] and accelerating the <011̅0> growth of ZnO nanoribbons. Bottom-gate ZnO-nanoribbon-based field-effect transistors demonstrated n-type field-effect conduction, and the current on-to-off ratio was as high as 1 × 10 4 . The novel method developed in this study can be used to synthesize other metal oxides with zigzag edges.