Controlled synthesis of SnO2 nanostructures with different morphologies and the influence on photocatalysis properties

SnO2 nanoparticles, nanoflowers, and nanorods of highly crystalline were synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method. The size and morphology of the SnO2 nanostructures could be controlled by varying the NaOH concentration of the precursor solutions. The SnO2 structures appeared to be sphere-like nanoparticles with diameters in the range of 5-10 nm in lower NaOH concentrations. In higher NaOH concentrations, the nanostructures showed orientation growth behavior and were flower-like or rod-like in morphology. The sphere-like shape demonstrated that Ostwald ripening took effect only at lower NaOH concentration while the preferential growth behavior at higher NaOH concentration testified "oriented attachment" was more suitable under this condition. Photocatalysis experiments were carried out to study the influence of the morphology, size, and surface on photocatalytic activities of SnO2. The nanoparticles synthesized with the M-NaOH : M-SnCl4 = 4: 1 showed the highest photolytic activities owing to their tiny size, large surface area, and abundant defect-related energy states. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.