Nanowires may present slightly different behaviors compared to their polycrystalline counterparts MEK pathway and it is important to investigate their surface and surface-environment interaction for their possible integration as reliable sensors. In this paper we present the results of experimental studies performed on SnO2 nanowires, prepared by vapor phase deposition

(VPD) method on the Ag-covered Si substrate. We used x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in combination with thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) to investigate the surface of samples in air atmosphere. The obtained information have been interpreted on the base of the surface morphology, additionally checked by the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Methods SnO2 nanowires were check details synthetized at SENSOR Lab, Department of Information Engineering, Brescia University, Italy, and Si (100) wafers have been used as substrates. Firstly, we deposited an ultrathin (5 nm) Ag nanolayers on the Si (100) substrate by RF magnetron sputtering (Kenotec Sputtering System, 50 W argon plasma, RT, 5 × 10-1 Pa, 7 sccm Ar flow). This ultrathin Ag layer plays an important role, promoting nucleation sites during the deposition process of SnO2 nanowires

on the Si (100) substrate. SnO2 nanowires were selleck inhibitor then synthetized on Si (100) substrates by VPD in an alumina tubular furnace (custom design, based on a Lenton furnace). SnO2 powder (Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, St. Louis, MO, USA) was used as a source material for the second deposition. It was placed in the middle of the furnace on an alumina crucible and heated up to 1,370°C to induce evaporation. Ag-covered Si (100) substrates were placed in a colder region of the furnace. Argon was used as gas carrier to achieve a significant mass transport towards the substrates. As the evaporated material reaches the colder region, it condensates on the substrates, forming SnO2 nanowires. The pressure inside the alumina tube was kept at 100 mbar, while the Ag-covered Si (100) substrates were kept at a temperature of 850°C. The surface morphology of deposited SnO2 nanowires was examined

using SEM (Zeiss, Leo 1525 Gemini model; Carl Zeiss AG, Oberkochen, Germany) at SENSOR Lab to confirm the proper synthesis of the nanostructures. The fabricated nanostructures were then exposed to environmental atmosphere. The surface chemistry, including contaminations, of the obtained SnO2 nanowires was checked by XPS method. These experiments were performed at CESIS Centre, Institute of Electronics, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland, using a XPS spectrometer (SPECS) equipped with the x-ray lamp (AlKα, 1,486.6 eV, XR-50 model), and a concentric hemispherical analyzer (PHOIBOS-100 model; SPECS Surface Nano Analysis GmbH, Berlin, Germany). The basic working pressure was at the level of approximately 10-9 hPa. Other experimental details have been described elsewhere [15].