Single-Step, Low-Temperature Simultaneous Formations and in Situ Binding of Tin Oxide Nanoparticles to Graphene Nanosheets by In-Liquid Plasma for Potential Applications in Gas Sensing and Lithium-Ion Batteries

The in situ binding of tin oxide (SnO2) nanoparticles (SNp) and graphene nanosheets (GNs) that synthesized simultaneously in single-step atmospheric-pressure processing was achieved at a low temperature by employing in-liquid plasma in a solution of tin chloride (SnCl2·2H2O) in ethanol as the only precursor. Transmission electron microscopy, Raman analysis, and X-ray diffraction revealed the composite (SNp/GNs) synthesis with SNp of sizes 2−3 nm, which were distributed uniformly and attached to both sides of the GNs. The SNp/GNs composite synthesis was provided by the simple, low-cost, single-processing method of the in-liquid plasma for future gas-sensing and lithium-ion battery applications.