Wet chemical synthesis and characterization of SnS2 nanoparticles

Abstract

The SnS2 nanoparticles were synthesized at room temperature by simple wet chemical method. Stannic chloride pentahydrate (SnCl4·5H2O) and thioacetamide (C2H5NS) were used as a source of Sn+4 ions and S−2 ions, respectively. The elemental composition of the as-synthesized SnS2 nanoparticles was determined by energy dispersive analysis of X-ray. The structure and lattice parameters were determined by X-ray diffraction. The crystallite size was determined from XRD pattern using Scherrer’s formula and Hall–Williamson plot. The transmission electron microscopy was employed to characterize the nanoparticles. The selected area electron diffraction pattern established the polycrystalline nature of SnS2 nanoparticles. Surface topography of nanoparticles was studied employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The bandgap determined from the UV–Vis–NIR spectrum of as-synthesized SnS2 nanoparticles showed blue shift in comparison with the bandgap of bulk SnS2. The photoluminescence spectra at five different excitation wavelengths 250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 nm showed two strong emission peaks at wavelengths 550 and 825 nm. The obtained results are discussed in details.