Influence of Sn-doping in hydrothermal methods on the optical property of the ZnO nanorods

Sn-doped ZnO nanorods with various Sn-doping concentrations were prepared using a low temperature hydrothermal method in an aqueous solution containing zinc nitrate, ammonium hydroxide, and tin acetate. With the increase in the concentration of tin acetate, more Sn atoms replaced Zn atoms in the ZnO lattice, and the amount of Sn in ZnO nanorods increased up to 14 at%. The relative intensity ratio of UV and deep level emission of ZnO nanorods was increased with the increase of Sn-doping level, and four times increase in the intensity ratio of UV to deep level emission was obtained for 14 at% Sn-doped ZnO nanorods compared with undoped ones. A blueshift of UV emission was observed up to 11 at% of Sn concentration, but redshift occurred when the amount of Sn was greater than that.