Synthesis of Co, Fe co-doped SnO2: characterization and applications

Abstract

Thin films of iron and cobalt co-doped tin oxide were deposited by spray pyrolysis technique on heated glass at 480°C with moving nozzle method. The weight ratio of Fe/Co co-doped SnO2 (Fe CTO) changed in the range of 4-16 wt.%. The structural, optical and biological characteristics were carried out by using different characterization techniques, Results from XRD, SEM, EDX and UV-Vis analyses demonstrated successful synthesis shows polycrystalline structures with cassiterite tetragonal crystal phase with a preferential orientation for co-doped SnO2 toward (211), The average grain size of the thin films was found to be 39.29 nm, SEM images showed that all sample having uniform morphology with variant shape upon increasing dopant concentration, Transmittance spectra of all the thin films display high transparency more than 80% in the visible region, and band gap (Eg) varies from 3.49 to 3.75 eV. Antibacterial activity of the doped SnO2 thin films is studied were investigated by agar method as showed good activity against both Gramnegative Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus).confirming these as future broad-spectrum antibacterial. Thus the preparation is a good candidate for further development into therapeutic formulations.