Selective synthesis of SnO2 hollow microspheres and nano-sheets via a hydrothermal route

• Published in: Chinese science bulletin Vol. 55; no. 7; pp. 581 - 587
• Main Authors: Li, Yue, Guo, YanQun, Tan, RuiQin, Cui, Ping, Li, Yong, Song, WeiJie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg SP Science in China Press 01.03.2010
• Subjects: Chemistry/Food Science; Earth Sciences; Engineering; Humanities and Social Sciences; Life Sciences; multidisciplinary; Physics; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); SnO2; X射线光电子能谱; 晶体生长过程; 水热法; 空心微球; 纳米氧化锡; 纳米结构; 选择性合成; hydrothermal; sensing; nanostructure; SnO
• ISSN: 1001-6538; 1861-9541
• DOI: 10.1007/s11434-010-0004-y

We report a mild template-free hydrothermal route for selective synthesis of SnO2 hollow microspheres and nano-sheets using SnCl2 and NaOH as initial materials. By switching the solvent from water to ethanol, the formed SnO2 nanostructures changed from nano-sheets to hollow microspheres. The obtained nano-sheets were single crystalline in structure. On the basis of the characteri- zation of intermediate products, the formation of SnO2 hollow microspheres was ascribed to a crystal growth process, while the formation of SnO2 nano-sheets was ascribed to the oxidation of SnO2 sheets during the hydrothermal process. Further characteri- zation of the SnO2 hollow microspheres and nano-sheets by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy reveals different optical absorption properties and valence band electronic structures. In addition, the SnO2 nano-sheets and hollow microspheres exhibit different sensing properties. The present work provides a facile and simple template-free method for the synthesis of nano-structured SnO2.