Tin (Sn) nanoparticles: novel synthesis by exploding wire technique and crystalline, optical properties

Abstract In this paper, we report a novel method, namely the exploding wire technique, to synthesize tin nanoparticles, utilizing tin wire and plate. The prepared colloidal suspension of silvery-black colour, was centrifuged. The nanoparticles collected after centrifugation were collected, dried and subjected to further grinding to finally obtain the powder nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals tetragonal crystal structure of Sn nanoparticles having lattice parameters a = b = 5.8238 Å and c = 3.1806 Å. The crystallite sizes within the 35–69 nm range were determined through the Debye–Scherrer relation and Williamson–Hall analysis. However, much smaller size Sn nanoparticles of 5–16 nm were observed through field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and elemental mapping analyses. The crystal volume and strain were calculated and differential scanning calorimetry measurements determined the reduced value of melting temperature for prepared Sn nanoparticles. The optical processes occurring in prepared nanoparticles were probed with the help of ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopies. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies could identify the functional groups/bondings present in the prepared nanoparticles.