A rapid hydrothermal synthesis of rutile SnO2 nanowires

Tin oxide (SnO2) nanowires with rutile structure have been synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method at 98 °C. The morphologies and structural properties of the as-grown nanowires/nanoneedles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The SEM images reveal tetragonal nanowires of about 10–100 μm in length and 50–100 nm in radius. The Raman scattering peaks indicate a typical rutile phase of the SnO2. The effects of molar ratio of SnCl4 to NH4OH on the growth mechanism are discussed.