A microemulsion-based preparation of tin/tin oxide core/shell nanoparticles with particle size control

Nearly monodispersed tin/tin oxide core/shell nanoparticles were prepared by a reverse microemulsion technique. A phenanthroline - tin chloride complex was used in an optimized microemulsion system to obtain small particle size and good size control (mean = 3.2 nm, standard deviation = 0.5 nm). Preparation in the absence of phenathroline in an otherwise identical microemulsion composition would result in larger particles and a broader size distribution (mean = 7.4 nm, standard deviation = 1.8 nm). The nanoparticles were extensively characterized and the sequence of events leading to the nanoparticle formation is postulated.