Hydrothermal synthesis and photoluminescence properties of SnO2 nanowire array and pinecone-like nanoparticles on ITO substrate

The SnO2 nanowire array and pinecone-like nanoparticles were synthesized on the indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate via a simple hydrothermal process. The microstructure and morphology of the samples indicated that both nanowire array and pinecone-like nanoparticles were composed of rutile SnO2 nanowires. Furthermore, a reasonable growth mechanism of SnO2 nanowire array and pinecone-like nanoparticles was proposed, and the molar concentration ratio of NaOH to SnCl4 of the precursor solution played a key role in the morphological evolution. Finally, the photoluminescence properties and the ultraviolet–visible absorbance spectrum were investigated. The band gap of SnO2 nanowire array was about 3.43eV, which was consistent with the emission peak of PL spectrum. •SnO2 nanowire arrays and pinecone-like nanoparticles are hydrothermally synthesized.•The process is convenient and simple.•The alkali-salt-ratio plays a key role in the morphology evolution.•The PL spectra have been de-convoluted following the Gaussian profile fitting.•A reasonable growth mechanism of as-prepared SnO2 nanostructures is proposed.