Chemical synthesis and characterization of hydrous tin oxide (SnO2:H2O) thin films

In the present investigation, we report chemical synthesis of hydrous tin oxide (SnO ₂ :H ₂ O) thin films by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method at room temperature (thicksim thicksim 300 K). The films are characterized for their structural and surface morphological properties. The formation of nanocrystalline SnO ₂ 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 SnO ₂ :H ₂ O thin film. Electrical resistivity showed the semiconducting behaviour with room temperature electrical resistivity of 10 ⁵  WboldsymbolOmega cm. The electrochemical properties studied in 0·5 M Na ₂ SO ₄ electrolyte showed a specific capacitance of 25 F g ^− 1 at 5 mVs ^− 1 scan rate.