Tuning the Luminescence of Tin Oxide Low Dimensional Structures in the Near Infrared Range by In-Situ Doping During a Vapor-Solid Growth Process

Abstract

Tin oxide low dimensional structures increasingly attract attention due to their wide application area. Indeed, by attaining new morphologies and properties the potential applications might increase the device portfolio. Furthermore, an adequate combination of doped SnO_2 nano- and micro-structures could enable multi-functionality and totally new applications. The latter might be the case of low dimensional tin oxide structures emitting in the near infrared range, which is below the energy of the common visible luminescence of tin oxide. The ability to obtain near infrared luminescence from tin oxide is tested by doping in-situ during a vapor-solid growth using Li, Cu, and Cr containing precursors in the initial mixture with tin oxide or metallic tin powders. Luminescence around 1.5eV is obtained for all the samples with morphologies varying from microtubes to rods and belts depending on the specific dopant and the Sn-based precursor.