Thermal treatment synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticles and investigation of its light harvesting application

Abstract

In this research, nanostructured SnO2 materials have been prepared via thermal treatment method with the aid of new Schiff base complex. N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-1,2-propylenediamine (H2salpn) has been used as Schiff base to prepare a new Schiff base complex. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and TEM. Then, as-prepared SnO2 nanoparticles have been applied as working electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells sensitizing with two different natural dyes: madder and mignonette.