Abstract
ZnO nanowires, one of the most investigated nanostructures that promise numerous applications
in nanophotonics, opto-electronics, and energy, are generally thought to be highly stable under
ambient conditions because of their oxide nature. Here, we report that ZnO nanowires are actually
extremely unstable even in normal ambient environment (70% RH, and ∼350 ppm CO2) because of
atmospheric corrosion.When placed on an oxide substrate (e.g., glass slide) and exposed in air, ZnO
nanowires tend to react with airborne moisture and CO2 to form amorphous ZnCO3 thin films and
nanowires. The factors that specially affect the corrosion of ZnO nanowires in a laboratory
environment include CO2, humidity, and substrates. Our results suggest that a CO2- and/or
moisture-free environment are required in order for optimal applications of ZnO nanowires.
