Preferred orientation growth and size tuning of colloidal SnO2 nanocrystals through Gd3+ doping

Abstract Colloidal SnO 2 nanocrystals are prepared via a solvothermal method using oleic acid as a stabilizing agent. Preferred orientation growth along [001] direction of colloidal SnO 2 nanocrystals is observed, thereby pure SnO 2 nanoparticles with quasi-sphere shape being converted to nanorods due to Gd 3+ ions doping. In addition, with increasing Gd 3+ doping concentration, the size of SnO 2 nanorods decreases. The decrease in size and the change in the shape are ascribed to the increase in the growth rate along [001] direction due to the cationic doping with a surface charge modification. Our results demonstrate a simple method to tune the size and shape of SnO 2 nanocrystals through cationic doping with Gd 3+ ions.