Self-templating faceted and spongy single-crystal ZnO nanorods: Resistive switching and enhanced piezoresponse

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd A template-free, cost-effective, hydrothermal procedure is used to synthesize large areas of either faceted or spongy self-standing single-crystalline ZnO nanorods (NRs) from electrodeposited Zn films. The morphology of the NRs (faceted versus spongy) can be easily adjusted by simply varying the electrodeposition parameters of the parent Zn film. The obtained NRs exhibit an enhanced piezoelectric response (compared to bulk ZnO) and resistive switching properties which depend on their intrinsic morphology. This combination of properties together with the simplicity of the synthetic approach is particularly appealing for the fabrication of large arrays of nanosensors, nanoactuators and other applications that could benefit from an enhanced surface area in single-crystalline semiconductors.