Solvent effects in the synthesis process of tin oxide

Water is the most frequently used solvent in the chemical synthesis of inorganic materials where hydrolysis and condensation are the main reactions. In this work, we synthesized tin oxide nanoparticles using ethanol or acetic acid as a solvent by the controlled precipitation method. The main physicochemical phenomena that take place during the synthesis process and the possible reactions that led to the formation of the particles in the solution are described. The ceramic powder obtained was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis, infrared (IR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Interestingly, Romarchite SnO was the main crystalline phase obtained when acetic acid was used as solvent.