ZnO nanorod-Graphene hybrid architectures for multifunctional conductors

Abstract

we have fabricated 1D-2D HAs by low temperature and selective growth of regular array of ZnO nanorods on a few-layer graphene films transferred to the arbitrary substrates such as glass or plastic substrates. The ZnO nanorod-graphene 1D-2D HAs showed good electrical conductance and good optical transparency, as comparable to homogenous graphene layer, plus ultraviolet and visible light emission inherited from the ZnO nanorods. In addition, light scattering by the regular array of ZnO nanorods on transparent graphene yields the distinct diffraction patterns for laser beam, which indicates the long-range ordering of the array of ZnO nanorods. Cyclic bending test for the 1D-2D HAs on the plastic substrates showed that reiterations between spotty and streaky diffraction patterns were repeated up to hundred cycles, which reflects the excellent mechanical flexibility and structural stability of the HAs, and subsequent electrical measurements demonstrated the stable electrical conduction with small resistance change. The unique electrical, optical, and mechanical properties of the 1D-2D HAs demonstrates the potential applications as multifunctional conducting layers in electronic and optoelectronic systems.