Microemulsion Synthesis of SnO2 Spheres Using Tin Acetylacetonate as a Precursor

Abstract

The process for preparing SnO2 nanocrystalline microspheres via synthesis in microemulsions combined with hydrothermal treatment of the resulting suspensions was studied. Tin acetylacetonate, whose n‑butanol solution is more convenient for use compared to classical reagents, was shown to have a promise for use as a precursor. Simultaneous thermal analysis and IR spectroscopy showed the transformation of a hydrated powder under heating to yield anhydrous tin dioxide. SEM analysis of the prepared SnO2 powder microstructure elucidated a two-level organization of oxide particles—nanoparticles with a size of about 25 nm were hierarchically organized in the form of medium-sized microspheres of about 1.5 µm, were formed during microemulsion synthesis upon tin acetylacetonate hydrolysis.