In this paper, a low-temperature (T=70 degrees C) solution-phase approach has been developed for the fabrication of vertically-aligned ZnO nanoneedle arrays directly on bulk nickel substrate. The synthetic process involving no seeds, no catalysts, and no surfactants can be readily scaled up. The as-grown ZnO arrays are further used for the first time as anode materials for Li-ion batteries operated in the voltage window 0.05-2.5 V. In the preparation of battery electrode, there is no need to transfer the obtained ZnO arrays to a different surface or align them; In addition, no conducting carbo...
