Preparation of nanosized spinel stannate, Zn2SnO4, from a hydroxide precursor

A new convenient method for the synthesis of spinel zinc orthostannate, Zn2SnO4, has been developed. The synthesis proceeds during thermal treatment of a hydroxide precursor obtained by coprecipitation of Zn(NO3)2 and SnCl2 with Na2CO3. It is shown that a product with a stoichiometric composition is obtained at a temperature much lower than that of usual solid state synthesis from oxides. This temperature is 750 °C when the precursor is fired without a preliminary treatment and 650 °C when mechanochemical activation precedes the heating. Under these conditions, deviation of the Zn2SnO4 composition from stoichiometry due to ZnO evaporation is avoided and the product has nanosized grains with an average size of the order of 20 nm.