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 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.