A unique advantage for ZnO nanowires arrays is that they can be grown at -80 degree celsius on substrates of any shape and any material.ZnO can nucleate and grow along the polar axis as long as there is ZnO seed. ZnO nanowires can grow not only on flat surfaces,like the inorganic substrate and polymer films,but also on curved surfaces, like flexible microfibers.Such versatile assembly of well-designed nanowire arrays on flexible microfibers can enable applications such as functional textiles and wearable microelectronics.

ZnO nanowire arrays could only nucleate and grow selectively on the regions where there were no carboxylic groups. This because protonated HMTA species combined with the surface carboxylic acid groups, thus blocking the nucleation of ZnO in these UV-radiated regions.

ZnO synthesis can also be carried out on catalysts such as Au,Ag and Pt. Such metals can be deposited onto polymetic substrates as thin films to achieve nanowire growth.In this case,the surface roughness of the thin film must be carefully controlled to promote nucleation. In addition, the nanowire orientation is largely a function of the surface topography. In order to achieve vertically aligned nanowires,an appropriate process flow must be employed for smooth substrate surfaces.