Versatile fabrication of aligned SnO2 nanotube arrays by using various ZnO arrays as sacrificial templates

In this paper, we describe an effective two-step method for fabricating aligned SnO2 nanotube arrays by using various pre-synthesized ZnO nanorod arrays as sacrificial templates. The composition and structure of as-synthesized SnO2 nanotube arrays were analyzed in detail by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Because there is a special epitaxial relation between the SnO2 walls and ZnO templates, the walls building the SnO2 nanotubes are highly orientated and nearly single-crystalline. Our present study provides an opportunity to investigate related physical and chemical properties and potential applications of such aligned SnO2 nanotubes with nearly single-crystalline nature.