Growth and morphology of tin nanoparticles obtained by the condensation of metal vapors

Abstract

Tin nanoparticles (Sn-Nps) were synthesized using the metal vapor condensation technique (MVC) in a metallic atoms reactor. The parameters used for synthesis in this study were the following: distance to the metal evaporation center (MEC), metal evaporated moles (MEM), and frosting and defrosting temperatures of substrates. The Sn-Np depositions were carried out with Sn bulk over glass substrates positioned vertically at different angles and distances to the MEC. The Sn-Np characterization was performed by TEM, SEM, selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and UV-Vis. The TEM micrographs evidenced particle sizes of 75 and 25 nm for depositions conducted at 3 and 10 cm above the MEC, respectively. The particle sizes depended significantly on the MEC, the substrate, and the MEM. The SAED revealed phases corresponding to SnO (tetragonal) and $\alpha $-Sn in different crystalline orientations. The technique showed good reproducibility in terms of particle size, and it is an important source of nanostructured materials free of impurities, which are widely used for printing electronic circuits.