Beaklike SnO2 Nanorods with Strong Photoluminescent and Field‐Emission Properties

Abstract
Beaklike SnO2 nanorods were synthesized by a vapor–liquid–solid approach using Au as a catalyst. The nanorods grow along the [10$\bar 1$] direction and the beak is formed by switching the growth direction to [1$\bar 1$$\bar 2$] through controlling the growth conditions at the end of the synthesis. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of the nanorods exhibits visible light emission with a peak at 602 nm. The field‐emission (FE) properties of the nanorods have been measured to exhibit a turn‐on field of 5.8 V μm−1. A comparative study of FE measurements between SnO2 nanorods with uniform diameters and these beaklike nanorods suggests that the shape and curved tips are important factors in determining the FE properties.