Facet-Selective Epitaxial Growth of δ-Bi2O3 on ZnO Nanowires

Abstract

Integration of ZnO nanowires with Bi2O3 coating layers can modify their physicochemical properties and efficiently improve the performance of the resulting nanostructured composites for specific applications. The interfacial structures often control the properties of such nanocomposite systems. We report a novel approach to achieving selective epitaxial growth of δ-Bi2O3 layers onto the {11–20} nanoscale facets of ZnO nanowires. By detailed atomic scale characterization of the surfaces and interfaces of the Bi2O3/ZnO nanocomposites we proposed that growth of the δ-Bi2O3 species on ZnO {11–20} surfaces follows the Stranski–Krastanov mechanism with an epitaxial relationship of ZnO [10–10] (11–20)∥δ-Bi2O3 [001] (100). An atomic model is proposed to explain the epitaxial relationship, the interfacial atomic structure, and the facet-selective growth.