Self-assembled nanowire-nanoribbon junction arrays of ZnO

We report the synthesis and characterization of nanowire-nanoribbon junction arrays of ZnO, which were grown by thermal evaporation of the mixture of ZnO and SnO2 powders at 1300 degreesC through a vapor-liquid-solid process. The Sn particles produced by the reduction of SnO2 act as the catalyst; the structure is formed due to a fast growth of ZnO nanowires along [0001] and the subsequent epitaxial radial growth of the ZnO nanoribbons along the six [01 (1) over bar0] directions around the nanowire. The liana shape nanostructure could be a candidate for fabricating ultrahigh sensitive sensors.