Characterization of morphology and optical properties of SnO₂ nanowires prepared by electrospinning

Abstract

The growing interest in one-dimensional tin oxide-based nanomaterials boosts research on both high-quality nanomaterials as well as production methods. This is due to the fact that they present unique electrical and optical properties that enable their application in various (opto)electronic devices. Thus, the aim of the paper was to produce ceramic SnO₂ nanowires using electrospinning with the calcination method, and to investigate the influence of the calcination temperature on the morphology, structure and optical properties of the obtained material. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to examine the morphology and chemical structure of obtained nanomaterials. The optical properties of manufactured one-dimensional nanostructures were investigated using UV-Vis spectroscopy. Moreover, based on the UV-Vis spectra, the energy band gap of the prepared nanowires was determined. The analysis of the morphology of the obtained nanowires showed that both the concentration of the precursor in the spinning solution and the calcination temperature have a significant impact on the diameter of the nanowires and, consequently, on their optical properties.