Novel route to dendritic SnO2 nanostructure via ethanol-assisted controlled borohydride reduction

Novel SnO2 nanodendrites, 4-fold symmetry nanostructure, nanowhisker with belt-like sub-branch, and tree-like nanowhiskers, have been successfully synthesized by controlling release rate of hydroxide ions in ethanol solution. Hydroxide ions can effectively control the morphology of nanodendrites and ethanol used as aqueous surroundings is critical for SnO2 dendritic growth. Based on the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation, a model for the growth mechanism is presented and discussed.