Physical & enhanced photocatalytic properties of green synthesized SnO2 nanoparticles via Aspalathus linearis

Abstract

This contribution reports on the synthesis and the main physical properties of n-type SnO2 nanoparticles synthesized for the first time by a completely green chemistry process using Aspalathus linearis’s natural extract as an effective chelating agent. Their surface/interface and volume properties by X-rays diffraction, Raman, X-rays photoemission & photoluminescence spectroscopies are reported. Their average diameter ranging from 2.1 to 19.3 nm follows a thermal governed equation of 〈Øparticles〉 = 1.048 10−5 T2 – 4.92 10−3 T + 2.84. The smallest SnO2 nanoparticles exhibit effective photocatalytic responses to Methylene blue, Congo red and Eosin Y.