Optical properties of Zn1-xMgxO nanorods using catalysis-driven molecular beam epitaxy

We report on the optical properties of (Zn,Mg)O nanorods grown by catalyst-driven molecular beam epitaxy. The process is site-specific, as single crystal (Zn,Mg)O nanorod growth is realized via nucleation on Ag films or islands that are deposited on a SiO2-terminated Si substrate surface. Growth occurs within a flux of Zn, Mg, and O-2/O-3 mixture at substrate temperatures of 400 500 degreesC. With the addition of Mg, the nanorod morphology becomes more uniform relative to the pure ZnO nanomaterials synthesized under similar conditions. The (Zn,Mg)O nanorods are cylindrical, exhibiting diameters of 15-40 nm and lengths in excess of 1 mum. The (Zn,Mg)O nanorods exhibit a strong photoluminescence response, showing a slight shift to shorter wavelengths due to Mg incorporation. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.