Template-free synthesis of SnO2 nanostructural hollow spheres covered by nanorods

Abstract In the present work, SnO 2 nanostructural hollow spheres have been successfully synthesized in the absence of template by a simple synthetic route, and their surfaces were covered by nanorods. The synthesized nanostructural hollow spheres covered by nanorods were further characterized by XRD, SEM and TEM measurements. The diameter of SnO 2 hollow spheres and the thickness of shells are found to be ca. 150–200 and 20–30 nm, respectively. The size of the nanorod is found to be ca. 5 nm, and the length up to tens of nanometers. Based on a series of experimental results, an oxidizing-aggregating-Ostwald ripening model has been proposed for the formation of SnO 2 nanostructural hollow spheres.