Mechanothermal Synthesis of SrSnO3

The synthesis of strontium metastannate (SrSnO3) has been performed by coupling mechanical activation with thermal activation of SnC2O4-SrCO3 mixtures. The solid-state reaction has been studied by TG-DSC analysis and powder X-ray diffraction. By annealing experiments performed on physical mixtures (no mechanical activation) it has been assessed that the formation of SrSnO3 occurs through the intermediate Sr2SnO4 and is complete only after annealing at 1400 degrees C. By performing the annealing experiments on activated mixtures it has been established that the formation of SrSnO3 takes place directly at temperatures between 800 and 1000 degrees C. The SrSnO3 samples obtained at 800 and 900 degrees C show, by TG analysis, mass loss processes that suggest that SrSnO3 obtained at these temperatures absorbs H2O and CO2 from the air so that its use as gas sensor can be envisaged. This is no longer true for the sample obtained at 1000 degrees C or above.