Exploring the influence of tin in micro-structural, magneto-optical and antimicrobial traits of nickel oxide nanoparticles

Abstract Transition metal oxide nanoparticles, especially nickel oxide (NiO) have profound interests to the scientific commune on account of their dimension-reliant attributes and peculiar progression in optical, electrochemical, and magnetic characteristics. Herein, the undoped and tin (Sn) doped nickel oxide nanoparticles of varied concentrations were synthesized by highly favourable citrate assisted sol-gel technique. An array of extensive investigations were discussed on the structural, optical, and magnetic properties of synthesized nanoparticles. The crystallite size and strain of as-synthesized samples decreased with significant augmentation in dopant discrepancy which was confirmed by Scherrer and Williamson-Hall model. The optical energy band gap was evaluated from UltraViolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy analysis and a notable blue shift was observed over the wide absorption spectrum. Refractive index, Urbach energy, and other optical parameters anchored in opto-electrical applications were evaluated from optical studies. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis conducted at room temperature from spectral span 400–4000 cm−1 affirmed the cubic configuration and elucidated bond lengths of pure and tin-doped nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy studies portrayed surface morphological features and slight porous particles were observed. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis confirmed the spherical shape of nanoparticles and the grain size estimated is in accordance with the XRD results. The surface area and porosity of pure and doped samples were deeply investigated by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. Magnetic parameters such as saturation magnetization, coercivity, retentivity, magnetic moment were enumerated from Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) investigations and two critical magnetic parameters were extracted from the Law of Approach to Saturation model (LAS). The sample with 6% of Sn shows the highest coercivity of 147 Oe. Further, synthesized pure and doped traces of nickel oxide nanoparticles were deliberated for their competent application in the domain of antibiotics independent antimicrobial activity.