Improved photocatalytic efficiency of SnO2 nanoparticles through green synthesis

Abstract In this work, tin dioxide (SnO2) nanoparticles (NP's) were synthesized by means of green synthesis, using different concentrations (1, 2 and 4%) of orange peel of extract (Citrus sinensis) as a reducing agent. The NP's obtained were used for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). Using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) it was possible to observe the characteristic molecular vibrations Sn-O at 1632 cm-1 and Sn-O-Sn at 642 cm-1. With the X-ray diffraction technique (DRX), the NP's were observed to have a tetragonal crystalline structure in the rutile phase. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the positions of the specific energies of 486.8 eV of Sn3d3/2 and 495.4 eV of Sn3d5/2 were found, showing the chemical state of Sn4+. Sample M3 NP's presented: via means of Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), an average diameter of was of 4.5 nm; modified band gap values of 3.49 eV; a photocatalytic MB degradation of 94.4% at 120 min. Therefore, the synthesis of SnO2 NP's using Citrus sinensis is a great option for its application both in photocatalytic activities and to eliminate dyes in a small amount of time.