Structural and cathodoluminescence assessment of transition metal oxide nanostructures grown by thermal deposition methods

Nanostructures of two transition metal oxides, WO3 and α-Fe2O3, have been grown by a thermal deposition method without a catalyst and characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and cathodoluminescence (CL) in the SEM. WO3 micro and nanorods exhibit CL emission two orders of magnitude higher than CL intensity from the untreated oxide. α-Fe2O3 nanostructures with different morphologies (wires, belts, rods, urchins) were grown at different temperatures on Fe substrates. CL spectra of these nanostructures show emission bands related to charge transfer and ligand field transitions.