Synthesis, structural and optical properties of alloyed Ti(1−x)SnxO2 nanoparticles

• Highly stress reduced TiSnO2 (x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0) NPs were prepared by SMI method.
• Optical energy gap values were blue shifted.
• Lesser crystallite size in the range of 4–9 nm was obtained.
• Tunable structural, optical properties of TiSnO2 offer great potential for energy applications.

Strain minimized Ti(1−x)SnxO2 (x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by an efficient and cost effective solvothermal microwave irradiation (SMI) method. The average crystallite size value determined by XRD profile broadening and high resolution transmission electron microscopy is within the range of 4–9 nm (±0.64 nm). The morphologies and composition of synthesized nanocrystals were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), respectively. The direct band gap values determined by UV–Vis. technique is within the range 3.358–3.777 eV (±0.027 eV). The photoluminescence (PL) spectra exhibit two prominent bands, which can be ascribed to the band-edge and defect-related emission bands. The optical emission is tuned from 460 nm (2.699 eV) to 521 nm (2.381 eV) with the increase of Sn composition in Ti(1−x)SnxO2 nanoparticles.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide