Synthesis and characterization of crystalline tin oxide nanoparticles

Monodisperse non-aggregated spheroidal nanoparticles of SnO2 cassiterite were prepared by hydrolysis of tin isopropoxide in the presence of acetylacetone and p-toluene sulphonic acid, followed by ageing at 60 C. The obtained sols remain stable for several months at 4 C. The nanoparticles were characterised in the solid state (xerosol) by powder XRD, TEM, TGA-DTA, and 119Sn MAS and 13C CP-MAS NMR. The mean size of the cassiterite oxide core is about 1-2 nm. These particles do not aggregate in suspension because their surfaces are protected by an hybrid organic-inorganic layer containing acetylacetonate ligands, acetylacetone, p-toluene sulphonates and water. 66 refs.