Electrical transport properties of ZnO nanofibers

ZnO nanofibers were synthesized by the electrospinning method. Their electrical transport properties were investigated by fabricating field effect transistors based on single ZnO nanofiber. The electron concentration (n) and the field-effect mobility (μ _e) in the ZnO nanofibers are not so sensitive to the calcination atmosphere; O ₂ and N ₂. Importantly, n (μ _e) in the ZnO nanofibers is bigger (much smaller) than those in single-crystalline ZnO nanowires. The existence of nanosized gains in the ZnO nanofibers is likely to be responsible for such big differences in n and μ _e. Huge grain boundaries created by nanograins seem to play the role of a source providing electrons and a barrier for electrons to flow as well. To enhance the μ _e, the calcination condition to obtain ZnO nanofibers with larger grains needs to be applied.