Preferential growth of SnO2 triangular nanoparticles on ZnO nanobelts

ZnO-SnO2 binary nanostructure was synthesized by a simple vapor-phase transport method. Pyramid-like single-crystalline SnO2 nanoparticles were found grown on the surface of the ZnO nanobelts with definite orientations, aligning into a line along two preferential directions [01(1) over bar 0] and [01(1) over bar 1]. The ZnO-SnO2 binary nanostructures were studied and their growth mechanism was discussed. The ZnO-SnO2 binary nanostructures were used to fabricate CO gas sensor with sensitive response. The photoluminescence of the binary oxide nanostructure was also measured.