Solution-based synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticle/CdS nanowire heterostructures

Heterostructures of SnO2 nanoparticles (NP)/CdS nanowires (NW) were successfully fabricated by a two-step chemical solution method. In the first step, CdS nanowires were synthesized by a simple solvothermal route. In the second step, SnO2 nanoparticles were grown on the surface of the CdS nanowires in a chemical solution of SnCl4 center dot 5H(2)O and anhydrous ethanol at 200 degrees C. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were adopted to characterize the as-prepared products. The possible formation mechanism of the SnO2 NP/CdS NW heterostructures has been phenomenologically discussed. The effects of reaction conditions, such as deposition reaction time, reaction temperature, and solvent were also studied.