Sol–gel synthesis of SnO{sub 2}–MgO nanoparticles and their photocatalytic activity towards methylene blue degradation

• Published in: Materials research bulletin 2013-10, Vol.48 (10)
• Main Authors: Bayal, Nisha, Jeevanandam, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: MAGNESIUM; MAGNESIUM OXIDES; MATERIALS SCIENCE; METHYLENE BLUE; NANOSTRUCTURES; PHOTOCATALYSIS; SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS; SPECTROSCOPY; SYNTHESIS; TIN OXIDES; X-RAY DIFFRACTION
• ISSN: 0025-5408; 1873-4227
• DOI: 10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2013.05.092

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • A simple sol–gel method for the synthesis of SnO{sub 2}–MgO nanoparticles is reported. • Band gap of SnO{sub 2} can be tuned by varying the magnesium content in SnO{sub 2}–MgO. • SnO{sub 2}–MgO shows good photocatalytic activity towards degradation of methylene blue. - Abstract: SnO{sub 2}–MgO mixed metal oxide nanoparticles were prepared by a simple sol–gel method. The nanoparticles were characterized by power X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The XRD results indicate the formation of mixed metal oxide nanoparticles and also a decrease of SnO{sub 2} crystallite size in the mixed metal oxide nanoparticles with increasing magnesium oxide content. The reflectance spectroscopy results show a blue shift of the band gap of SnO{sub 2} in the mixed metal oxide nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity of the SnO{sub 2}–MgO nanoparticles was tested using the photodegradation of aqueous methylene blue in the presence of sunlight. The results indicate that the mixed metal oxide nanoparticles possess higher efficiency for the photodegradation of methylene blue compared to pure SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles.