Hydrothermal preparation of BaSnO3 and Au-BaSnO3 nanorods.

ABSTRACT

Barium stannate nanorods have been synthesized using chloride precursors, which were activated to form composite complexes and subjected to hydrothermal treatment in a teflon lined reactor. The reaction time was varied between 0.5 to 6.0 h. The reaction conditions included alkaline pH, pressure of 75 kg/cm2 and temperature below 200 degrees C. The sample powders were further calcined at 200, 400 and 600 degrees C for 4 h each. The phase formation was confirmed by IR and XRD. The cubic phase of BaSnO3 powder obtained at 600 degrees C was observed under electron microscope and revealed the formation of long rods of length 2-5 microm with a diameter of 50-60 nm. The use of TMAOH as a mineralizer resulted in the formation of shorter and finer nanofibres. The nanorods were sonicated in presence of auric chloride solution in alkaline medium and the formation of Au-BaSnO3 composite powder was confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction technique.