skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Influence of aqueous hexamethylenetetramine on the morphology of self-assembled SnO{sub 2} nanocrystals

Journal Article · · Materials Research Bulletin
; ;  [1];  [1]
  1. School of Semiconductor and Chemical Engineering, Chonbuk National University, 664-14 Duckjin-Dong 1 Ga, Jeonju 561-756 (Korea, Republic of)

Research highlights: {yields} Synthesis details self-assembly of SnO{sub 2} in aqueous hexamethylenetetramine solution. {yields} Hydrogen bonds clustering around the hexamethylenetetramine interact with the non-polar SnO{sub 2} surfaces. {yields} Self-assembly was possible with aqueous tin (II) chloride solution and not with aqueous tin (IV) chloride solution. -- Abstract: The present report details the effects of synthesis time, concentrations of hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) and precursor tin (II) chloride solutions on the self-assembly of SnO{sub 2} nanocrystals. High-resolution electron microscopy images revealed that the structures were made of randomly attached SnO{sub 2} nanocrystals with sizes in between {approx}2 and 5 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that the Sn3d region was characterized by the spin-orbit splitting of the Sn3d{sub 5/2} ground state at {approx}487.6 eV and by the Sn3d{sub 3/2} excited state at {approx}496.1 eV, which was attributed to the Sn{sup +4} oxidation state of the SnO{sub 2} samples. We also found that the self-assembly could be achieved only with aqueous tin (II) chloride solution, and not with aqueous stannic (IV) chloride solution. A plausible growth mechanism is proposed in order to analyze the distinctive self-assembly of SnO{sub 2} nanocrystals in the presence of aqueous HMTA solution.

OSTI ID:
22210032
Journal Information:
Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 46, Issue 4; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English