Evaluation of photocatalytic efficacy of biosynthesized tetragonal SnO2 nanoparticles

Abstract

Present report portrays, Ocimum Basilicum leaf extract (OBLE) mediated Tin (IV) oxide nanoparticles [SnO2@OBLE NPs] were synthesized in a cost-effective and environmental benign way. Rietveld refinement study of X-ray diffraction profile revealed the tetragonal rutile type crystal symmetry belonging to P4/2mnm space group. FTIR spectra showed hydroxyl (–OH) humps at 3443 cm−1 and 1630 cm−1 thereby confirming presence of methanolic phytochemicals which act as stabilizing, reducing and capping agents. FESEM micrograph of SnO2@OBLE NPs depicted non-uniform granular distribution with an average size of 23.29 ± 1.09 nm. SnO2@OBLE NPs illustrated potential candidature as a photocatalyst for degradation of natural red (NR) dye under UV light. The degradation efficiency was found to be 99.9 % at 150 min with a rate constant (k) of 0.0767 min−1.

Keywords

• Crystal structure
• Optical materials and properties