Controllable two-step growth and photoluminescence of waterweed-like SnO2 nanowires

Waterweed-like SnO2 nanowires (NWs) were synthesized via a two-step thermal chemical vapor deposition (TVCD) process. Nanowhiskers with enlarged surface-to-volume ratio can be grown on NWs accurately, because of the product synthesized via the two-step process. These NWs and nanowhiskers with unusual [1 0 1] and image growth directions have very straight and uniform diameters and lengths. Photoluminescence shows that waterweed-like SnO2 NWs have three prominent emission bands at 540, 612, and 668 nm. The waterweed-like SnO2 can be applied in optoelectronic devices and potential applications to lithium-ion batteries, because of its high surface-to-volume ratio and high electric capacity properties.