Synthesis of tin and tin oxide nanoparticles using liquid phase plasma in an aqueous solution

•Liquid phase plasma method was applied to the synthesis of Sn nanoparticles.•Dendrite-shaped particles were formed at the initial stage of the reaction.•Small spherical nanoparticles were generated at long discharge time.•Anisotropic SnO2 nanoparticles were produced at too long discharge time.•The solution pH decreased with the formation of SnO2 nanoparticles. Liquid phase plasma method was applied to the synthesis of Sn nanoparticles. Tin chloride was used as the tin precursor. Dendrite-shaped particles were formed at the initial stage of the reaction, while spherical nanoparticles were generated at longer discharge time. When the discharge time was too long (longer than 50min in this study), anisotropic SnO2 nanoparticles were produced. With increasing dosage of Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, used as the surfactant, the Sn particle size decreased, while the degree of dispersion of the particles increased. Higher electrical conductivity of the reactant solution resulted in the production of larger Sn nanoparticles. The solution pH decreased with increasing plasma discharge time until 50min, after which pH slightly increased, co-occurring with the formation of SnO2 nanoparticles.