Twinned Zn2TiO4 spinel nanowires using ZnO nanowires as a template

Abstract

A three-step method to synthesize ternary twinned Zn2TiO 4 nanowires, using the ZnO nanowires as a template, is presented. The ZnO nanowires used as template are firstly coated with amorphous Ti to form a ZnO/Ti core/shell structure, followed by annealing at 800°C for 8 h. The sputtering condition has been optimized to yield a maximum quantity of nanowires with this desired Ti/Zn ratio. The final product is (111)-twined Zn 2TiO4 nanowires growing along (111) direction. The formation of the twinned structure involves a solid-state reaction between Ti and the ZnO single crystal, where formation of twinning reduces the system energy. The synthesis could be further developed for controlled synthesis of ternary nanostructures.