Tin oxide nanoparticles were prepared using an ionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and tin (IV) chloride as an inorganic precursor via the reverse microemulsion method. The size of the nanoparticles is controlled by variation of water-to-surfactant ratio. Eliminating of surfactant in prepared nanoparticles was confirmed by the infrared spectroscopy after sequential calcinations. Transmission electron microscopy, surface area, pore volume, average pore diameter, pore size distribution and X-ray diffraction results were used for evaluation of size distribution, shape and structure of prepared SnO2 nanoparticles. Transmission electron micrographs confirmed that the obtained materials are spherical nanoparticles. The X-ray diffraction results show the crystalline phases of all samples are SnO2 with tetragonal structured crystal. In addition, the X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy data showed that the size of SnO2 nanoparticles decreased with decreasing the water-to-surfactant ratio.

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