Cost-effective synthesis method of facile environment friendly SnO₂ nanoparticle for efficient photocatalytic...

The present study demonstrates an intensive experimental work based on the tin oxide (SnO₂) nanoparticle synthesis which was successfully carried out by a simple conventional precipitation method followed by calcination at 700 °C. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The XRD pattern proves that tetragonal rutile structure SnO₂ nanoparticles were formed. The crystallite particle size calculation from Scherer's equation revealed the average size of 28.5 nm. The absorption spectrum of SnO₂ nanoparticles showed absorption band at about 290 nm and the band gap energy (E_g) from Tauc plot was obtained at 3.8 eV. The photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical compound, 4-aminopyridine (5 ppm) using synthesized SnO₂ nanoparticle, was assessed. The effect of variable catalyst dosage, pH and irradiation sources, were studied. The optimum catalyst dosage and pH were found to be 1.5 gm/L and 6.5, respectively. The degradation efficiency of water contaminant 4-aminopyridine under UV light and solar light irradiation for 120 min were found to be 97% and 11%, respectively. The reusability of the catalyst was checked and has been found stable after three photocatalytic runs.