Self-assembly of SnS2 submicron-sized flakes to form microspheres under template-free hydrothermal conditions

SnS2 microspheres composed of submicron-sized flakes were successfully prepared via a simple surfactant-free hydrothermal reaction route at 240 °C for 12 h, using SnCl4 and Na2S as reactants. The powders were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed that the SnS2 microspheres had a single-phase hexagonal structure. The SEM micrographs indicated that these microspheres with the size of ∼30 μm in diameter were mainly constructed by self-assembly of submicron-sized SnS2 flakes. The effect of reaction temperature and the amount of mineralizer (urea) on the formation of SnS2 microspheres under hydrothermal conditions were investigated and a possible formation mechanism was preliminarily presented.