One-step fabrication and characterization of silica-sheathed ITO nanowires

Novel In1.94Sn0.06O3 (ITO)/amorphous SiOx core–shell structures were successfully synthesized by simple thermal evaporation. Studies indicated that the core–shell structures typically consisted of a core of crystalline, ITO nanowires surrounded by a shell of amorphous, SiOx tubular structures. We proposed a gold-catalyzed, vapor–liquid–solid process as the dominant mechanism for the growth of the core ITO nanowires, whereas SiOx was grown in a tubular structure by a simultaneous and dynamic process. The possible reason for the preferential formation of the SiOx shells on the outside of the core–shell structures, is discussed. In regard to the core/shell structures, three emission peaks of 2.73, 3.06, and 1.65 eV were observed in the room-temperature photoluminescence measurements, and were attributed to the SiOx shell.