ABSTRACT

          ZnO is a semiconductor which can be applied to many different electronic devices such as laser diodes and light emitting diodes (LEDs).  ZnO can also be used in transparent thin-film transistors, photovoltaic cells, and in environmental applications.  In this experiment the effect of different pH levels on the morphologies of ZnO nanostructures was investigated.  The pH levels used in this study were 9.0, 10.0 and 11.0. These nanostructures were grown by wet chemical deposition on three different substrates: indium tin oxide (ITO), silicon, and sapphire.  Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the pH greatly affected the morphologies of these ZnO nanostructures.  As the pH level was increased, the nanostructures assumed a more rod-like form.  Nanorods, nanowires, and nanoflowers are three of the different morphologies observed in this experiment.