Preparation and Characterization of SnO2 Nanofibers via Electrospinning

Tin oxide (SnO2) nanofibers are successfully prepared by electrospinning homogeneous viscous solutions of tin acetate in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The electrospinning is carried out by applying a DC voltage to the tip of a syringe and maintaining the tip to collector distance (TCD), i.e. at DC electric field of 1.25 kV•cm–1. The electrospun nanofibers are calcined between 550℃ and 650℃ for 4 h. Both spun and heat treated nanofibers are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy (FTIR) etc. XRD analysis of calcined nanofibers confirms the formation of pure tin oxide. TEM study showed that fibers have a polycrystalline structure with multiple nano-grains.