SOL-GEL SYNTHESIZED SnO2 NANOPARTICLES SHOWING ADVANCED PHOTOCATALYTIC ATTRIBUTES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION CONTROL
Tin oxide (SnO2) is an interesting material having novel structural and optical properties. To investigate the above properties, the sol-gel route is selected to prepare SnO2 nanoparticles. Detailed investigation of the structure such as; phase analysis and crystallinity was accomplished by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. It has been observed that the as-synthesized tin oxide has a tetragonal rutile structure. The synthesized SnO2 samples have an average crystallite size from 20 nm to 26 nm as ascertained from the XRD study. Morphology study by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) shows the evolution of monodispersed nanocrystallites of SnO2. The photocatalytic property of SnO2 nanoparticles was studied in degrading a cationic dye such as; methylene blue with the application of UV-Vis light. The dye degradation rate before & after illumination of UV-Visible light at (λ = 664 nm) was calculated which follows pseudo-first-order kinetics. The parameters such as catalyst dosage and pH have influences on the degradation rate which has been studied systematically. A degradation of 84.23 % has been obtained by tin oxide nanoparticles after 120 min of UV irradiation. This will eventually help in treating the industrial wastes mixed with water bodies targeting water pollution.
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