Growth Control of SnO2 Nanoparticles Using a Low-Temperature Solution Process

Abstract

Perovskite solar cells, specifically using SnO 2 nanoparticles, have been extensively researched and are proving to be extremely promising in the field of renewable energy by increasing a solar cell’s overall efficiency and lowering the cost of production. In this study, an experiment was performed to synthesize SnO 2 nanoparticles over 8 days. Day 1 was the synthesis which included the mixing of water, tin (II) chloride, methanol, sodium carbonate and dimethylformamide and then heated in a water bath at 28 𝐶 𝑜 . Sampling of this solution started on day 4 of the experiment when sufficient particle growth was observed and stopped at day 8. Centrifuging, freezing, and freeze-drying were used for each sample to isolate the solid product. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction was used to characterize the isolated nanoparticle. The results from the X-ray powder diffraction showed that each sample consisted of SnO 2 nanoparticles of different sizes. From the transmission electron microscopy on the samples showed that the overall size of the nanoparticles gradually increased during each additional synthesis day.