Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue on Sn-doped titania nanoparticles synthesized by solution combustion route

• Series of Sn-doped titania nanoparticles were prepared by solution combustion synthesis method.
• Sn-doped titania nanoparticles were tested for degradation of MB under UV light irradiation.
• The maximum Sn doping in the TiO2 lattice is found to be less than 10%.
• The crystallite size decreases with increase in the Sn content.
• The doping of Sn into TiO2 lattice hinders the recombination of electrons and holes thus enhance the photocatalytic activity.

Series of tin-doped titania nanoparticles with varying tin content in the range 0–20 mol% have been prepared by solution combustion synthesis route using urea as a fuel. The structure, surface morphology and optical activity of Sn-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were investigated by various analytical techniques such as powder XRD, SEM, TEM, UV–vis and N2 adsorption study. The crystalline structures of the various phases were studied by rietveld refinement of the XRD data. The photocatalytic performance of Sn-doped titania nanoparticles were tested for degradation of MB under UV and visible light irradiation. The results reveal that the photocatalytic activity increases with increase in tin content which may be due to decrease in crystallite size with increase in surface area. The doping of Sn into TiO2 lattice hinders the recombination of electrons and holes thus enhance the quantum efficiency of photocatalytic reaction.

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