Preparation of carbon fiber/SnO2 core–shell structure by surface modification and precipitation process in aqueous solution

A core–shell structure material, carbon fiber/SnO2 was prepared by a surface modification precipitation process in aqueous solution. A nucleation and crystal growth model for this structure was proposed. The effect of annealing temperature and concentration of SnCl2 on the structure, morphology and absorptive properties of composites were investigated. Results showed that coating was improved at higher SnCl2 concentration. Best coating was obtained with 250 nm thick SnO2 shell on the surface of carbon fiber from 0.05 M SnCl2. The energy band gap calculated from the absorptive spectra was about 3.90 eV. In addition, the SnO2 coating can protect the CFs from oxidation at a relatively high temperature.