Preparation of nanocrystalline composite TiO2-SnO2 powders using sol-gel method combined with hydrothermal treatment

The paper describes the process of TiO2-SnO2 nanocomposites manufacturing utilizing two-step sol-gel method combined with calcination (in the case of titanium hydroxide gel) or hydrothermal treatment (in the case of tin hydroxide). Phase composition of the obtained nanopowders and average crystallite sizes were determined using XRD analysis. Measurements of the specific surface area were performed using sorption method based on determination of physical adsorption isotherm (BET). Morphology of the nanopowders was observed using transmission electron microscope. The presented synthesis method enables to obtain composites nanopowders from TiO2-SnO2 system with known and controlled chemical and phase compositions, and distinctly diversified TiO2 and SnO2 particle sizes.