Absorption Properties of Hybrid SnO2 Nanocrystal-Carbon Nanotube Structures

Abstract

Tin oxide (SnO 2 ) nanocrystals of a few nanometers are of great interest for electronic applications. Here we present a mini-arc plasma method to produce aerosol tin oxide nanocrystals at atmospheric pressure. The product SnO 2 nanocrystals are then assembled onto the external surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to form hybrid SnO 2 -CNT structures. The absorption properties of both the SnO 2 nanocrystals and the SnO 2 -CNT hybrid structures have been characterized. Quantum size effects have been observed for as-produced SnO 2 nanocrystals. The intrinsic nanoparticle size selection during the assembly process results in a blue shift of the absorption spectrum for hybrid nanostructures.

An Easy Two‐Step Microwave Assisted Synthesis of SnO 2 /CNT Hybrids

“…Attaching NPs on CNTs surfaces could promote direct and effective charge transfer and hence increase device/process efficiency. 1 SnO 2 NPs decorated CNTs are reported to be useful functional composites in many applications including gas sensors 2 , fuel cells 3 , batteries 4 , and supercapacitors. 5 This is based on the fact that the work function of CNTs is approximately equal to that of SnO 2 allowing electrons to travel through the SnO 2 grains to CNTs and then be conducted in the CNTs with low resistance.…”