Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of novel SnO2 asterisk-like nanostructures

The novel SnO2 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 degrees 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), Xray 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. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.