Chemical synthesis and characterization of hydrous tin oxide (SnO 2 :H 2 O) thin films

In the present investigation, we report chemical synthesis of hydrous tin oxide (SnO2:H2O) thin films by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method at room temperature (\(\thicksim \)300 K). The films are characterized for their structural and surface morphological properties. The formation of nanocrystalline SnO2 with porous and agglomerated particle morphology is revealed from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study confirmed the formation of Sn–O phase and hydrous nature of the deposited film. Static water contact angle studies showed the hydrophilic nature of SnO2:H2O thin film. Electrical resistivity showed the semiconducting behaviour with room temperature electrical resistivity of 105 \(\boldsymbol\Omega \) cm. The electrochemical properties studied in 0·5 M Na2SO4 electrolyte showed a specific capacitance of 25 F g − 1 at 5 mVs − 1 scan rate.