Figure 1

Structural characterisation of ZnO NRAs. (a) XRD spectra of ZnO nanorods on Zn substrate and of the bare Zn substrate; (b) top-view SEM image of vertically aligned ZnO nanorods; (c) TEM image of a ZnO nanorod; the inset shows the corresponding FFT pattern that identifies the growth direction as the (001) axis; (d) HRTEM image of a ZnO nanorod showing the lattice spacing and confirming the growth direction; and (e) HRTEM image of a ZnO nanorod coated with a approximately 2 nm Al₂O₃ film prepared by ALD.