Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of string-like ZnO/SnO nanowire/nanosheet nano-heterostructures

•String-like ZnO/SnO nanowire/nanosheet nano-heterostructures were synthesized.•The microstructures of the nano-heterostructures were studied in detail.•Blue shift of the band related emission of ZnO from the nanostructures was observed.

String-like ZnO/SnO nanowire/nanosheet nano-heterostructures were synthesized by a two-stage vapor transport and condensation method. ZnO nanowire backbones and SnO nanosheets were single crystalline. Several pieces of SnO nanosheets were threaded by a single ZnO nanowire, forming string-like nano-heterostructures. A preliminary growth model was proposed to explain the formation of the nano-heterostructures. PL measurements showed the band related emission of ZnO had a blue shift for ZnO/SnO nano-heterostructures, which was due to the doping of Sn in ZnO nanowires. A broad emission ranging from 450 to 730 nm of the ZnO/SnO nano-heterostructures might be related to defects in both ZnO nanowires and SnO nanosheets. This special nanostructure may find applications in gas sensors, photodetectors, etc.

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