Gas phase synthesis of size selected SnO2 nanoparticles for gas sensor applications

Gas-phase synthesis of nanoparticles is advantageous because of higher purity due to absence of liquid solvents and the possibility of reaching high temperature, thereby extending the range of materials which can be synthesised. The synthesis of materials suitable for the use in nanostructured thin films gas sensors via the evaporation-condensation route is here undertaken in combination with the well-defined size control technique provided by aerosol science. In this work the synthesis of nanometer-sized SnO2 is described. The experiments exists mainly in finding the optimal preparation method, as SnO2 nanoparticles are produced here by oxidation of Sn or SnO nanoparticles in a flow reactor.