EPR study of nanocrystalline tin dioxide

We have detected that O2‐ and OH• radicals are the main type of spin centers in nanocrystalline tin dioxide. Their integral concentrations increase proportionally to a growth of specific surface in the investigated samples. Concentration of OH• radicals increases after sample treatment in water vapour. Concentration decrease of O2‐ radicals is provided through the surface modification of tin dioxide with palladium and additionally water molecules, that is probably due to the formation of PdO‐layer on the surface of the samples. It is shown that the SnO2/Pd samples have promising sensor properties. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)