Nanoparticles research is rapidly growing into an extensive research area. This is due to the fact that nanoparticles can be easily altered by varying their chemical environment, shape and size. One of the key benefits of nanoparticles is that their properties differ from bulk material of the same composition.
Tin is a malleable post-transition metal that is not easily oxidized in air. It can be coated onto other metals to prevent corrosion.
Tin nanoparticles have high surface activity, large specific surface area, good dispersion performance and uniform particle size. Tin nanoparticles dispersed in lubricating oil can be used as multi-purpose oil additives, which have the potential to reduce friction and wear in automobile engines.
Chemical Properties
The chemical properties of tin nanoparticles are outlined in the following table.
| Chemical Data |
| Chemical symbol |
Sn |
| CAS No. |
7440-31-5 |
| Group |
14 |
| Electronic configuration |
[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p2 |
Physical Properties
The physical properties of tin nanoparticles are given in the following table.
| Properties |
Metric |
Imperial |
| Density |
7.31 g/cm3 |
0.264 lb/in3 |
| Molar mass |
118.69 g/mol |
- |
Thermal Properties
The thermal properties of tin nanoparticles are provided in the table below.
| Properties |
Metric |
Imperial |
| Melting point |
231.93°C |
449.47°F |
| Boiling point |
2602°C |
4716°F |
Manufacturing Process
Tin nanoparticles can be synthesized by the chemical reduction of various tin precursor agents including tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate, tin(II) sulfate, tin(II) chloride and tin(II) acetate. It can also be prepared by solution dispersion of bulk tin.
Applications
The key applications of tin nanoparticles are listed below:
- Transparent ant-static films
- Anti-microbials, antibiotics and anti-fungal agents
- Coatings, plastics, nanofibers, bandages and textiles
- Metal electric padding, conductive slurry and lubricants
Source: AZoNano