Effects of thermal annealing on Pt-shell/MgO-core nanowires

We have reported the preparation of Pt-coated MgO nanowires and investigated changes in the structural and photoluminescence (PL) characteristics resulting from application of a thermal annealing process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) have been used to characterize the samples. The shell layer was transformed to Pt nanoparticles by thermal annealing at 800 degrees C. We have studied the effects of Pt-coating and thermal annealing on the PL emission of the products. This approach will offer a potentially useful and novel route for the fabrication of a variety of metal nanoparticles on core nanowires.