Hydrothermal Synthesis and Microstructural Control of SnO₂ Nanoparticles Through Precursor and Solvent Variation
摘要
Tin oxide (SnO2) nanoparticles were synthesized using a hydrothermal method. In this study, we used two different methodologies. The concentration and medium variation technique was utilized to precisely manipulate morphology and microstructure. The concentration of the Tin precursor (SnCl2) was systematically increased from 0.08 M to 0.14 M in increments of 0.02 M, while the ethanol content in a 36 ml bath volume was adjusted across particular quantities (0, 8, 18, 24, and 36 ml). Structural investigation utilizing the Scherrer, Halder-Wagner, and Size-Strain plot methods found that the crystallite size dependence was non-linear with the precursor concentration, peaking at 0.1 M and reaching a maximum value of around 14.7 nm. Similarly, during solvent variation, the highest crystallite size was seen when the ethanol content in the aqueous bath reached 18 ml, with subsequent increases up to 36 ml resulting in a decrease in size. Microstrain, on the other hand, fluctuated very slightly when the concentration of the Sn precursor was changed, but increased steadily as the ethanol content increased. Furthermore, this tuning successfully engineered the morphology, transforming the irregularly shaped, globular agglomerations observed at lower concentrations into structures resembling nanoneedles; these nanoneedles, with a length of around 150 nm, were easily visible when the ethanol concentration reached 36 ml. Furthermore, this work lays the groundwork for future uses, such as gas detection and other optoelectronic applications.