Growth of ZnO nanowires on a patterned Au substrate

ZnO nanowires were site-selectively deposited on the catalytic gold-patterned substrates using a vapor transport process at low temperature. We observed that Au–Zn phase played an important role in initiating the ZnO nucleation, which was identified from the TEM observation of the interface between the substrate and ZnO nanowires. And then further growth of the nanowires on the ZnO surface was driven by the reaction of the Zn vapor and O 2 gas in vapor–solid growth mode. Finally, it was concluded that the site-specific deposition of ZnO nanowires was ascribed to the vapor–liquid–solid mechanism of Au, Zn vapor, and Au–Zn phases at the initial stage of ZnO nucleation.