Raman spectroscopic and photoluminescence study of single-crystalline SnO2 nanowires

Single-crystalline SnO2 nanowires with sizes of 4–14 nm in diameter and 100–500 nm in length were produced in a molten salt approach by using hydrothermal synthesized precursor. Structural characters of the nanowires were examined by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution electron transmission microscopy. Raman, photoluminescence and X-ray photoelectron spectra of the samples were examined under heat treatments. Three new Raman modes at 691, 514 and 358 cm−1 were recorded and assigned. The former two are attributed to activation of original Raman-forbidden A2uLO mode and the third is attributed to defects in small-sized nanowires. A strong photoluminescence is observed at about 600 nm, the temperature effects is examined and the origin of the PL process is discussed via X-ray photoelectron spectra.