Influence of dopant concentrations (Mn = 1, 2 and 3 mol%) on the structural, magnetic and optical properties and photocatalytic activities of SnO2 nanoparticles synthesized via the simple precipitation process

• Pure and Mn doped SnO2 were synthesized via very simple precipitation method.
• Mn concentrations played a vital role to modify the properties of SnO2.
• MeO dye was degradated upto 92% by Mn doped SnO2 compared with pure 70.2%.
• Mechanism of photocatalytic activity of SnO2 was discussed well.
• Proposed method has the important advantage of being simple, fast and cost effective.

We have successfully synthesized pure and Mn (1–3 mol%)-doped SnO2 nanoparticles via the facile precipitation method. The influence of Mn concentrations on SnO2 nanoparticles properties were systematically investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), ultraviolet visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. On the other hand, the photocatalytic degradation of the Methyl orange dye was comparatively investigated, by using pure and 1–3% concentration of Mn-doped SnO2 samples and the mechanism has been discussed. All the results demonstrate that doping levels have strong influences on the structural, magnetic, and optical properties and photocatalytic activity performances.

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