FORMATION MECHANISM OF NANOSIZED TIN OXIDE (SnO2) POWDER DURING HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS

Preparation of nanosized SnO2 electroceramic powders via hydrothermal synthesis was investigated as a function of initial concentration and treatment time in order to understand the formation and growth mechanisms. SnO2 powder was successfully synthesized from the hydrous tin oxide by hydrothermal synthesis at 200°C. Crystalline SnO2 particles with a specific surface area as high as 170 m2/g were produced in a single step without requiring any calcination process. As initial concentration of metal cation increases from 0.0125 to 0.05 M, an Ostwald ripening type growth process was observed in the crystallite size from 3.1 to 4.6 nm. Evolution of tin oxide particles was also investigated by altering the treatment time from 1 to 24 h and a diffusion controlled growth behavior was observed as a function of synthesis time.