Formation of nanostructured tin oxide semiconductors by a simple thermal redox process

Nanostructured tin oxide have been synthesized in one-step process by a novel simple thermal reduction-oxidation route. The results show that tin oxide nanowires and nanorods could be synthesized via thermal treatment of a mixture of tin oxide and charcoal powder in air at 1000-1250 degrees C. At a relatively low temperature, 1000 degrees C, and time, 30 min, the tin oxide structure was found to be a bundle of dense nanorods. By increasing the reaction time to 180 min at the same temperature (1000 degrees C), the bundles separated to form liberated individuals nanowires with almost round cross sectional view. With the increase of temperature and time, the morphology of tin oxide nanostructures varied from nanowires to well-defined tetragonal rods. (C) 2006 WILEYNCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.