CuSn(OH)6 submicrospheres: Room-temperature synthesis, growth mechanism, and weak antiferromagnetic behavior

CuSn(OH)6 submicrospheres with diameters of 400–900 nm have been successfully fabricated using a simple aqueous solution method at room temperature. Influencing factors such as the dosage of reactants and reaction time on the preparation were systematically investigated. The products were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Results reveal that the CuSn(OH)6 spheres are built from numerous nanoparticles. It is found that the diameter of CuSn(OH)6 spheres can be readily tuned by adjusting the molar ratio of Sn O 3 2 − to Cu2+. A possible growth mechanism for the CuSn(OH)6 submicrospheres has been proposed. Amorphous CuSnO3 submicrospheres were obtained after thermal treatment of the CuSn(OH)6 submicrospheres at 300 °C for 4 h. Standard magnetization measurements demonstrate that the CuSn(OH)6 submicrospheres are antiferromagnetic and have a weak spin-Peierls transition at about 78 K.