Synthesis mechanism of heterovalent Sn2O3 nanosheets in oxidation annealing process

Heterovalent Sn2O3 nanosheets were fabricated via an oxidation annealing process and the formation mechanism was investigated. The temperature required to complete the phase transformation from Sn3O4 to Sn2O3was considered.Two contrasting experiments showed that both oxygen and heating were not necessary conditions for the phase transition.Sn2O3 was formed under an argon protective atmosphere by annealing and could also be obtained at room temperature by exposing Sn3O4 in atmosphere or dispersing in ethanol. The synthesis mechanism was proposed and discussed. This fundamental research is important for the technological applications of intermediate tin oxide materials.