Abstract
We show that by controlling the growth conditions, the crossed networks of ZnO nanorods were grown on an MgO (001) substrate. The [0001] ZnO nanorods grow along the {111} directions of MgO substrate and form aligned arrays. This growth is a result of polar surface induced growth from both the MgO {111} and ZnO ± (0001). The crossed ZnO nanorod networks are a potential candidate for field emission, optoelectronics, ultrasensitive sensing, catalysts and filtering. c 2009 American Chemical Society.