Pore size control of mesoporous SnO2 prepared by using stearic acid

Mesoporous SnO2 with controlled pore size was prepared by calcination of the precursors containing stearic acid (STA). The vaporization of STA promoted the crystallization of SnO2 at low temperature. Crystallization accompanied with the vaporization of STA at low temperature allowed SnO2 crystallites to aggregate loosely to form mesopores. The SnO2 consisted of the aggregates of crystallites, and the mesopores were located at intercrystallites. The pore size and crystallite size of the mesoporous SnO2 increased with increasing calcination temperature (T-c). The specific surface area decreased with increasing T-c, while the pore volume showed little change in the range of T-c. The crystal growth of SnO2 during calcination at high T-c provided large mesopores at interparticles. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.