Synthesis and characterization of crystalline tin oxide nanoparticles

Monodisperse non-aggregated spheroidal nanoparticles of SnO2 cassiterite are prepared through hydrolysis of tin isopropoxide in the presence of acetylacetone and p-toluenesulfonic acid, followed by ageing at 60 °C. The obtained sols remain stable for several months at 4 °C. The nanoparticles have been characterized in the solid state (xerosol) by powder X-ray diffraction, TEM, FTIR, TGA-DTA, and 119Sn MAS and 13C CP-MAS NMR. The mean size of the cassiterite oxide core is about 1–2 nm. These particles do not aggregate in suspension because their surfaces are protected by an hybrid organic–inorganic layer containing acetylacetonate ligands, acetylacetone, p-toluenesulfonates and water.