High‐Yield Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Tin Dioxide by Thermal Decomposition for Use in Gas Sensors

High‐yield synthesis of nanocrystalline tin dioxide (nano‐SnO ₂ ) using a two‐step thermal decomposition process is reported. Stannous chloride with glacial acetic acid was the precursor to form tin diacetate, whose thermal decomposition gave nano‐SnO ₂ . The yield of respective steps matched well with theoretically expected values, by 85% for tin diacetate and by 94% for nano‐SnO ₂ . Material characterization was done using X‐ray diffraction (phase and particle size) and transmission electron microscopy. The nano‐SnO ₂ particles were successfully used to develop thick film H ₂ sensors. The sensor characteristics were closely related to the micro‐structural properties of nano‐SnO ₂ .