Shape-controlled synthesis of CaSnO3 micro crystals via a precursor route

Well-crystallized CaSnO3 micro crystals were successfully synthesized by a simple precursor method. Detailed investigation revealed that the product morphology was predestined by the precursor's morphology. By carefully choosing the experimental conditions, CaSnO3 micro crystals with cubic and eight-horn shape could be selectively prepared. Thermolgravimetric analysis (TGA) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis helped greatly in identifying the stage of the phase transformation. The morphologies have been characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). On the basis of the experiment results, a possible mechanism of the morphology control was also proposed.