Nano-Structured Ceramics by Gas-Phase Reaction

Single-crystalline nanofibers of tin dioxide (SnO_2) were synthesized by a gas-phase reaction of solid SnO2 sintered disks in a reducing atmosphere between 700 and 800 °C. The resulting nanostructures grew on regions of the disk that were coated with gold, which acted as a catalyst. The samples were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The nanofiber length was controlled by varying the reaction time and by the sintering agent used to densify the SnO_2 disks