Electric-Field Aerosol-Assisted CVD: Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties of Tin Oxide Microballs Prepared from a Single Source Precursor†

Abstract

Mesoporous nanostructures of tin(IV) oxide microballs are synthesized, using a single source precursor [Sn (OAc)(dmae)]₂ (where OAc = Acetato and dmae = dimethylaminoethanolato). The as-prepared microballs are characterized using X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared and UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and impedance spectroscopy. The focused ion beam (FIB) images of the exterior and interior surfaces of the microballs disclosed the presence of porous structures with mesopore of sizes ranging from 56-66 nm and 8.0 to 160 nm, respectively. The microballs exhibit high BET and Langmuir surface areas of 136 and 191.6 m² g⁻¹, respectively, and show capacities >600 mAhg⁻¹ over 60 cycles, as compared with unmodified tin oxide-based nanomaterials which show capacity < 500 mAh g⁻¹ after 50 cycles.