Controlled fabrication of SnO2 solid and hollow nanocubes with a simple hydrothermal route

SnO2 solid and hollow nanocubes have been fabricated by a one-step hydrothermal treatment of tin foil in aqueous alkaline solutions at 200 degrees C. The obtained cubes have an average edge length of about 300 nm, and the thickness of the hollow cubes' shell is in the range of 30-50 nm. Based on the time-dependent experiments, the evacuation behavior of Ostwald ripening is proposed to explain the formation mechanism of hollow cubes. Cathodoluminescence measurements disclose that the intensity for two peaks of hollow SnO2 nanocubes is enhanced significantly with respect to that of solid nanocubes. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.2952758]