AMORPHIZATION OF ZnO NANOWIRES BY PROTON BEAM IRRADIATION

Abstract

We report the effects of 70 keV proton ( H+ ) irradiation on the structure of zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs) for a wide range of irradiation doses at room temperature. It was found that at low dose 5 × 1015 ions/cm2 of protons, few defects were created in ZnO NWs and the defects' density was increased with an increasing proton irradiation dose. After the irradiation dose was increased to 2 × 1017 ions/cm2, the crystal structure of the ZnO NWs was almost completely damaged and the crystalline wurtzite structure of the ZnO NWs could be transformed into a disordered amorphous structure. Structural changes in the ZnO NWs upon bombardment with 70 keV protons were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM).