Abstract
We report an unusual morphology of ZnO nanowires with a hexagonal cross-section and corrugated side walls. Nanowires grow along the [0 0 0 1] direction and possess side walls built predominantly with facets of {10 (1) over bar1} and {10 (1) over bar(1) over bar} families. Such a morphology deviates dramatically from the well-known growth habit of ZnO nanowires that involves smooth side walls represented by {10 (1) over bar0} or {11 (2) over bar0} facets with the lowest surface energy. The formation of corrugated nanowires is attributed to the lateral growth activated by the high vapor supersaturation and the presence of stacking faults. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.