Estimation of lattice strain in nanocrystalline RuO2 by Williamson–Hall and size–strain plot methods

• Microstructural parameters of RuO2 nanoparticles are reported.
• Young’s modulus has been determined for the entire (h k l) plane.
• UV–visible spectra show the quantum confinement effect.

RuO2 nanoparticles (RuO2 NPs) have been successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal method. Structure and the particle size have been determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). UV–Vis spectra reveal that the optical band gap of RuO2 nanoparticles is red shifted from 3.95 to 3.55 eV. BET measurements show a high specific surface area (SSA) of 118–133 m2/g and pore diameter (10–25 nm) has been estimated by Barret–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) method. The crystallite size and lattice strain in the samples have been investigated by Williamson–Hall (W–H) analysis assuming uniform deformation, deformation stress and deformation energy density, and the size–strain plot method. All other relevant physical parameters including stress, strain and energy density have been calculated. The average crystallite size and the lattice strain evaluated from XRD measurements are in good agreement with the results of TEM.

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