Surface modification of tin oxide nanowires through hydroxyl group anchoring

In this work, the functionalization of SnO2 nanowires with grafted hydroxyl (OH) groups was introduced by changing the post-synthetic treatment and by growth in a vapor phase. Besides, the present paper describes two types of growth methods: (i) the vapor-solid one with post-synthesis treatment under NaOH solutions with different pH, and (ii) the direct growth using the vapor-liquid-solid one under water vapor. Structural characterizations demonstrated that OH groups were successfully anchored. Notably, band gap changes in the presence of OH groups are revealed. This kind of surface state engineering precisely opens new avenues of SnO2 nanowire applications in sensors and semiconductor uses.