Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of novel SnO2 asterisk-like nanostructures

Abstract The novel SnO 2 asterisk-like nanostructures with multi-armed nanoribbons and nanowires have been prepared without any catalysts by thermal evaporation of the mixture of SnO and Sn powders at 1000 °C for 5 min. It was observed that there are some vertical branches stemming from arms of the nanocrystals. The products were characterized with field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. A room temperature photoluminescence spectrum of as-synthesized products shows two peaks: one at 319 nm (3.89 eV), which was seldom observed and discussed previously, and the other at 583 nm (2.13 eV). The possible growth mechanism of the products was discussed.