Chapter 3: Property Characterisation and Optimisation
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Published:21 Jun 2017
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Special Collection: 2017 ebook collectionSeries: Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
X. Sun, Y. Shen, P. Lin, Z. Kang, and Y. Zhang, in ZnO Nanostructures: Fabrication and Applications, The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2017, ch. 3, pp. 60-123.
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To recognise and control ZnO-based nanostructures, an understanding of their characteristics is important. In this chapter, we briefly discuss the intrinsic properties of ZnO nanostructures, as well as the coupling effects under external strain or electric fields. Firstly, the band structures and defects in ZnO nanostructures are described from a first-principle perspective. Then we introduce the experimental and theoretical advances in the optical, mechanical, electric, magnetic and photocatalytic characteristics of ZnO nanostructures. Finally, the extraordinary piezoelectric and dielectric properties of ZnO nanostructures are presented to cover the origin of the piezoelectric effect and the approaches to observe piezoelectric properties. These features of ZnO nanostructures and their controllable performance modulations may not only give deep insights into nanosized ZnO, but could pave the way for an exploration of ZnO-based nanodevice applications.