Confocal Raman spectromicroscopy for tin-core/carbon-shell nanowire heterostructure

High density heterostructures of carbon nanotubes encapsulated single crystalline tin nanowires have been characterized by Raman spectromicroscopy. The morphology, composition and structure of the synthesized nanoheterostructures were examined by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy. The Raman spectra obviously manifest the crystalline nano-graphite within amorphous carbon walls in the heterostructures. The Raman image reproduces the pristine heterostructures of the CNTs as seen in SEM image, which illustrate the single nanowires oriented uniformly grown on micro-graphitic fibers. It was found that the resultant heterostructures are luminescent which was attributed to crystalline nano-graphite embedded in the amorphous carbon matrix, which is a consequence of excitons localization within an increasing number of sp2 rich clusters. The contrast in the Raman image reflects nonuniform distribution of the graphite cluster size which acts as the radiative centers. The luminescent property was reviewed. The enhanced Raman spectra and luminescent property by the well-defined tin nanowires inside the heterostructures was revealed.