Tin oxide nanocubes, and tin-core/tin oxide-shell nanostructures, with and without a hollow interior

A number of nanoscale tin oxide structures including 2–5 nm tin oxide hollow nanoparticles, 3–5 nm tin oxide nanocubes, 80–120 nm tin-core/tin oxide-shell nanocubes, and hollow tin oxide nanocubes, have been prepared from phenanthroline (phen)-capped Sn nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the existence of a hollow interior in the tin-core/tin oxide-shell nanostructures. It is believed that the low melting Sn core was hollowed out by electron beam irradiation of the sample during microscopy. The 2–5 nm tin oxide hollow nanoparticles and 80–120 nm tin oxide hollow nanocubes had thin but stable shells capable of preserving the integrity of the large cavity within.