resumo
Because of its electrically conducting properties combined with excellent thermal stability and transparency throughout the visible spectrum, tin oxide (SnO2) is extremely attractive as a transparent conducting material for applications in low-emission window coatings and solar cells, as well as in lithium-ion batteries and gas sensors. It is also an important catalyst and catalyst support for oxidation reactions. Here,we describe a noel nonaqueous sol-gel synthesis approach to produce tin oxide nanoparticles (NPs) with a low NP size dispersion. The success of this method lies in the nonhydrolytic pathway that involves the reaction between tin chloride and an oxygen donor, 1-hexanol, without the need for a surfactant or subsequent thermal treatment. This one-pot procedure is carried out at relatively low temperatures in the 160-260 degrees C range, compatible with coating processes on flexible plastic supports. The NP size distribution, shape, and dislocation density were studied by powder X-ray powder diffraction analyzed using the method of whole powder pattern modeling, as well as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The SnO(2)NPs were determined to have particle sizes between 3.4 and 7.7 nm. The reaction products were characterized using liquid-state C-13 and H-1 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) that confirmed the formation of dihexyl ether and 1-chlorohexane. The NPs were studied by a combination of C-13, H-1, and Sn-119 solid-state NMR as well as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. The C-13 SSNMR, FTIR, and Raman data showed the presence of organic species derived from the 1-hexanol reactant remaining within the samples. The optical absorption, studied using UV-visible spectroscopy, indicated that the band gap (E-g) shifted systematically to lower energy with decreasing NP sizes. This unusual result could be due to mechanical strains present within the smallest NPs perhaps associated with the organic ligands decorating the NP surface. As the size increased, we observed a correlation with an increased density of screw dislocations present within the NPs that could indicate relaxation of the stress. We suggest that this could provide a useful method for band gap control within SnO2 NPs in the absence of chemical dopants.
palavras-chave
OPTICAL-PROPERTIES; RAMAN-SPECTRUM; METAL-OXIDES; NMR; SIZE; RESOLUTION; SPECTROSCOPY; ABILITY; SN-119; GROWTH
categoria
Chemistry
autores
Karmaoui, M; Jorge, AB; McMillan, PF; Aliev, AE; Pullar, RC; Labrincha, JA; Tobaldi, DM
nossos autores
David Maria Tobaldi
Investigador
João António Labrincha Baptista
Professor Catedrático
Mohamed Karmaoui
Bolseiro de pós-Doutoramento
Rob Pullar
Colaboradoragradecimentos
M.K. thanks Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) for grant no. SFRH/BPD/74477/2010. This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007679 (FCT Ref. UID/CTM/50011/2013), financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC and when appropriate co-financed by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. R.C.P. thanks FCT grant IF/00681/2015 for supporting this work. Dr Harold Toms is thanked for assistance performing SSNMR measurements.