Issue 5, 2018

In situ growth of ZnO/SnO2(ZnO:Sn)m binary/superlattice heterojunction nanowire arrays

Abstract

SnO2(ZnO:Sn)m is a recently reported new phase in the ZnO–SnO2 binary system with a naturally grown superlattice structure, which is currently only found in the form of one-dimensional nanowires. Difficulties in high-purity synthesis and orientation control have hindered further investigations into its potential unique physical properties. Here, we present a novel growth design of fabricating ZnO/SnO2(ZnO:Sn)m binary/superlattice heterojunction nanowire arrays by one-batch chemical vapor deposition to explore the rational growth mechanism of SnO2(ZnO:Sn)m superlattice nanostructures. The morphology, chemical composition and crystal structure of the as-prepared products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Cs-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. It is revealed that the SnO2(ZnO:Sn)m superlattice section epitaxially grows on top of the ZnO nanowire along the [0001] direction, following the orientation relationships [[1 with combining macron]10]Au//[11[2 with combining macron]0]ZnO/SnO2(ZnO:Sn)m and (111)Au//(0002)ZnO/SnO2(ZnO:Sn)m. The Au catalysts on the pre-grown ZnO nanowires play a key role in absorbing further loading of Zn/Sn vapor, inducing the formation of the SnO2(ZnO:Sn)m superlattice on the basal plane of ZnO, at the same time, avoiding the appearance of Sn-rich impurity phases. Photoluminescence measurements display a red shift of the ultraviolet (UV) emission peak from 381 nm to 386 nm and an extra peak at 470 nm, compared with the ZnO reference. This study would shed light on the rational growth of natural oxide superlattice nanowire arrays and complex axial heterojunction nanostructures.

Graphical abstract: In situ growth of ZnO/SnO2(ZnO:Sn)m binary/superlattice heterojunction nanowire arrays

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 Nov 2017
Accepted
15 Dec 2017
First published
18 Dec 2017

CrystEngComm, 2018,20, 556-562

In situ growth of ZnO/SnO2(ZnO:Sn)m binary/superlattice heterojunction nanowire arrays

S. Jiang, B. Ge, B. Xu, Q. Wang and B. Cao, CrystEngComm, 2018, 20, 556 DOI: 10.1039/C7CE02014G

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements