The Synthesis of SnS2 Nanoflakes from Tetrabutyltin Precursor

Hexagonal phase SnS2 nanoflakes have been synthesized by reactions between an organotin precursor tetrabutyltin [TBT, (CH2CH2CH2CH3)4Sn] and carbon disulfide in hexanes at 180–200°C for 10-40 h. The structure, morphologies, composition, and properties have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ICP-AES, and Raman and M?ssbauer spectroscopies. XRD patterns determined the hexagonal SnS2 with lattice parameters a=3.6384 ?, c=5.9201 ? obtained in nhexane, and a=3.6389 ?, c=5.9288 ? in cyclohexane. The flakelike morphologies were mainly caused by the anisotropic growth of SnS2. A possible mechanism is given in the paper.