Synthesis and characterization of single crystalline SnO2 nanorods by high-pressure pulsed laser deposition

Tin oxide (SnO2) nanorods were grown by high-pressure pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The nanorods were grown without the use of a catalyst but required high background pressure growth in order to realize small grain columnar growth and nanorod formation, with nanorod formation most favored on non-epitaxial substrates. The structures and morphology were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). X-ray diffraction and HRTEM analysis indicate that the as-grown SnO2 nanorods are single crystals with a rutile structure. The nanorods are approximately 50-90 nm in diameters and 1.5 mu m in length. This method provides an approach for large area synthesis of one dimensional SnO2 nanostructure materials.