Influence of silver and graphite on zinc oxide nanostructures for optical application

Abstract Silver and graphite doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures were fabricated by facile and efficient direct sublimation process by employing thermal evaporation. Silver and graphite were incorporated to modify ZnO tetrapod structures for optical applications. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques were used to investigate micro and nanostructures variation with doping in bare ZnO. Electrical measurements have been performed to study the conducting nature of these fascinating nanoobjects. Silver in ZnO results into flower shape multipod structure and graphite doping in ZnO results into tetrapods constituted with multiple rods like structure. Photoluminescence measurements revealed the alteration in emission towards near band edge peak with different excitation wavelength. Similar changes have been noted in UV graph by influencing the absorbance properties of the bare-ZnO with doping of silver and graphite.