VLS Synthesis and Characterization of SnO 2 Nanowires

We have synthesized core-shell 1D nanostructures by the Vapor-Liquid-Solid (VLS) mechanism. Gold (Au) was used as a catalyst and tin oxide (SnO) powder as a precursor; the growth temperature was of 600 °C. These structures were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, EDS, and PL. The nanowires have an average diameter of 20 nm and their lengths are of tens of micrometers; the core is tin dioxide (SnO2) with the tetragonal rutile structure and it has an average diameter of 12 nm; the shell is amorphous Sn of 8 nm average thickness. Photoluminescence measurements show a broad band in the 400-800 nm range. On the same growth process, SnO2 nanoparticles and a mixture of SnO2 rods and wires were also obtained, at 400 °C and 800 °C, respectively.