Interfacial growth behavior of SnO2 nanorods on {112̄0} and {101̄0} facets of α-Fe2O3

SnO(2) nanorods with specific growth directions, [101] or [001], were fabricated on α-Fe(2)O(3) substrates via a simple hydrothermal method. The growth behavior of SnO(2) nanorods is facet-selective. Both {11 ̅20} and {10 ̅10} facets of α-Fe(2)O(3) are favorable to direct the growth of SnO(2) nanorods. The correlation between the crystallographic orientation of SnO(2) and the facets of α-Fe(2)O(3) is characterized by TEM observations and investigated on the basis of the interfacial lattice compatibility. Furthermore, the distribution and coordination of oxygen atoms at the interface of α-Fe(2)O(3)-SnO(2) heterostructure are analyzed, which reveals that only slight deviations from their original equilibrium positions are allowed for the formation of heterogeneous interface. And this lower energy activated interfacial construction is beneficial to the feasibility and stability of heterostructures.