Flexible three-dimensional SnO2 nanowire arrays: atomic layer deposition-assisted synthesis, excellent photodetectors, and field emitters.

Flexible three-dimensional SnO2 nanowire arrays were synthesized on a carbon cloth template in combination with atomic layer deposition and vapor transport. The as-grown nanostructures were assembled by high density quasi-aligned nanowires with a large aspect ratio. Nanoscale photodetectors based on the flexible nanostructure demonstrate excellent ultraviolet light selectivity, a high speed response time less than 0.3 s, and dark current as low as 2.3 pA. Besides, field emission measurements of the hierarchical structure show a rather low turn-on field (3.3 Vμm(-1)) and threshold field (4.5 Vμm(-1)), as well as an excellent field enhancment factor (2375) with a long-term stability up to 20 h. These results indicate that the flexible three-dimensional SnO2 nanowire arrays can be used as functional building blocks for efficient photodetectors and field emitters.