Sonochemical Synthesis of SnO₂ Nanoparticles and Their Preliminary Study as Li Insertion Electrodes

Abstract

SnO 2 semiconductor nanoparticles were synthesized by an ultrasonic irradiation of an aqueous solution of SnCl 4 and azodicarbonamide under ambient air. These nanoparticles are ∼3−5 nm in size, as calculated using the Debye−Scherrer formula, and as observed by TEM. The SnO 2 nanoparticles were also characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), reflection spectroscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), DSC, and TGA. The band gap was calculated from reflection spectroscopy. Electrochemical tests were performed using the SnO 2 nanoparticles as the electrode's materials in nonaqueous Li salt solutions. The results showed promising reversibility, cycle life and high capacity for lithium insertion into the SnO 2 nanoparticles.