Abstract
Tapered zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods have been grown directly on Fe and Cu electrode surfaces using a facile, one-step seedless (catalyst-free) solution processing method. Diaminopropane (DAP) is used to facilitate the growth of tapered nanorods. Fe electrodes remain nearly intact for the duration of synthesis, yielding low areal density ZnO nanorod arrays, while Cu electrodes were continuously etched and grew relatively high areal density arrays with a strong interfacial connection. However, despite the presence of dissolved metal ions within the synthesis solution, Auger analysis reveals dopant-free ZnO nanorods. The fabricated nanorod arrays were demonstrated as a field emission source.