Formation and characterization of tin oxide aerogel derived from sol–gel process based on Tetra(n-butoxy)tin(IV)

Transparent and translucent SnO2 aerogels with high specific surface area (>300 m2/g) have been prepared by sol–gel process using tetra(n-butoxy)tin(IV) as a starting compound, and supercritical drying technique for solvent extraction. Light scattering measurements reveal that the polymeric cluster size distribution in sol system is gradually broadened during sol–gel transition. SEM images show that the aerogels are made up of the cottonlike oxide agglomerates with a large number of pores. TEM images show that these aerogels seem to be self-similar at different magnifications. Their pore size distribution is pretty wide ranging from mesopore to macropore especially for that of translucent aerogel.