Electrodeposition of SnO2 nanocrystalline thin film using butyl-rhodamine B as a structure-directing agent

Porous SnO2 nanocrystalline thin films were successfully electrodeposited from an oxygen-saturated acid aqueous solution of SnCl2 containing different concentrations of butyl-rhodamine B（BRhB） at 70℃.BRhB with substitute of amidocyanogen can be dissolved in the acid deposition solution,where HCl was added to suppress hydrolysis of SnCl2.So it was used as a structure-directing agent to promote the crystal growth of SnO_2.The formed porous morphology and tetragonal rutile crystalline structure of the electrodeposited thin films were controlled by the addition of BRhB with different amounts.