(432b) Facile Synthesis of Single-Crystalline Sn Dendrites Via Galvanic Replacement Reaction and Their Thermal Conversion to SnO2

Tin (Sn) dendrites have been fabricated using galvanic replacement reaction between thermal evaporated zinc (Zn) films and stannous chloride (SnCl₂). The Zn film is found to be composed of Zn nanodiscs. The replacement reaction was fast and the produced dendritic Sn has a single crystalline structure. The growth process was studied by changing the concentration of SnCl₂ in the replacement reaction, and the growth direction was further analyzed by electron diffraction. The as-prepared Sn is further oxidized by rheotaxial growth and thermal oxidation (RGTO) process to retain the structure of the template. The electrochemical property of SnO₂ was demonstrated in the redox reaction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and the reduction of H₂O₂ was greatly enhanced. This study provides a promising route to the facile synthesis of functional metals/metal oxides with novel structures.