Cathodoluminescence characterization of SnO2 nanoribbons grown by vapor transport technique

Cathodoluminescence (CL) was used to characterize the tin dioxide (SnO2) nanoribbons grown by vapor transport technique. The CL emission at the room temperature showed two broad bands centered at 2.02 eV (orange band) and 2.70 eV (blue-green band). The orange band may be related to the oxygen vacancies. The CL spectra did not change along the longer axis of the nanoribbons, while they varied across the nanoribbons. The variation across the nanoribbons was classified into three categories. The phenomena may be related to the different facets at the growth front of the nanoribbons.