Preparation of SnO2 whiskers via the decomposition of tin oxalate

A new method for preparing SnO2 whiskers by the decomposition of SnC2O4 is suggested. A Whisker-like morphology of a SnC2O4 precipitate was attained via the gradual addition of an oxalic acid solution to a hot SnCl2 aqueous solution (T > 50∘C). In comparison, when the solution temperature was either lower than 50∘C or when ethanol was used as the solvent, the SnC2O4 precipitate showed an angular and relatively isotropic morphology. The morphology of the SnC2O4 precipitate remained even after its thermal decomposition into SnO2 at 400∘C indicating that SnC2O4 precipitation is a key step in preparing the whiskers. The formation mechanism of SnO2 whiskers was explained by the supersaturation during the precipitation of SnC2O4.