X-ray spectroscopy study of ZnxSn1 −xO2 nanorods synthesized by hydrothermal technique

An environment friendly, inexpensive solvothermal route is used to synthesize polycrystalline ZnxSn1 −xO2 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.07) nanorods with nanoflower morphology without using any organic solvents, surfactant or any catalytic agent under low hydrothermal pressure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive x-ray spectra depicts the formation of near stoichiometric ZnxSn1 −xO2 nanorods. SEM analysis reveals that Zn incorporation in SnO2 decreases the nanorod diameter from ~ 20 nm to ~ 10 nm. High-resolution x-ray diffraction analysis reveals the rutile structure for x ≤ 0.04 samples, while for x = 0.07 a Zn2SnO4 phase is observed. Near edge x-ray absorption fine structure and x-ray photoemission spectroscopy indicate that Zn atoms have been substituted for Sn sites in SnO2 lattice without forming secondary phases and also create numerous oxygen vacancy in the structure.