ZnS/Zn2SnO4 biaxial nanowire heterostructures

Heterostructures of side-to-side biaxial ZnS/Zn2SnO4 (ZTO) nanowires have been fabricated via a simple one-step thermal evaporation process. Structural characterization by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction indicates that both the face-centered cubic spinel ZTO subsection and the wurtzite ZnS subsection of the heterostructure are well crystallized with a distinct interface along the heterostructure axial direction. Based on detailed analysis of the growth process of biaxial ZnS/ZTO nanowire heterostructures, there are two dominating stages: a vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) controlled growth of ZTO sub-nanowire and a self-assembly growth of ZnS sub-nanowire onto the preformed ZTO base nanowire. A growth model of the heterostructures is proposed. The presented method would be flexible and feasible for the synthesis of other nano-heterostructures with non-oxide/oxide interface to meet the growing demands of nanoscale science and technology.