Nanocrystalline SnO 2 powders prepared by solvothermal and co-precipitation pathways have been characterized using XRD, TEM, UV-Visible absorption, BET specific surface area (S BET) method, EIS and J-V measurements. The obtained powders have a surface area and size of 38⋅59 m 2 /g and 10⋅63 nm for the SnO 2 powders synthesized solvothermally at a temperature of 200 °C for 24 h, while the values were 32⋅59 m 2 /g and 16⋅20 nm for the formed hydroxide precursor annealed at 1000 °C for 2 h by co-precipitation route. The microstructure of the formed powders appeared as tetragonal-like structure. Thus, the prepared SnO 2 nanopowders using two pathways were applied as an electrode in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The photoelectrochemical measurements indicated that the cell presents short-circuit photocurrent (J sc), open circuit voltage (V oc) and fill factor (FF) were 7⋅017 mA/cm 2 , 0⋅690 V and 69⋅68%, respectively, for solvothermal route and they were 4⋅241 mA/cm 2 , 0⋅756 V and 66⋅74%, respectively, for co-precipitation method. The energy conversion efficiency of the solvothermal SnO 2 powders was considerably higher than that formed by co-precipitation powders; ~ 3⋅20% (solvothermal) and 2⋅01% (co-precipitation) with the N719 dye under 100 mW/cm 2 of simulated sunlight, respectively. These results were in agreement with EIS study showing that the electrons were transferred rapidly to the surface of the solvothermal-modified SnO 2 nanoparticles, compared with that of a co-precipitation-modified SnO 2 nanoparticles. Keywords. SnO 2 nanoparticle; co-precipitation method; solvothermal processes; dye-sensitized solar cells.
Transition metals (M = Zn, Ni, Co, and Mn) doped stannic oxide MxSn1−xO2 at x = 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 molar ratios have been successfully prepared. The results revealed that X‐ray diffraction peaks position exhibited the rutile tetragonal structure of cassiterite phase of SnO2 and there are no extra peaks of doped metal oxides at 0.1 and 0.2 molar ratio. However, secondary phase of doped metal oxides ZnO, NiO, Co3O4, and Mn2O3 were detected at 0.3 molar ratio. The average particles size of undoped SnO2 and doped samples were amounted to be ∼5.8, 7.8, 11.8, 14.3, and 17.4 nm for SnO2, Zn0.3Sn0.7O2, Ni0.3Sn0.7O2, Co0.3Sn0.7O2, and Mn0.3Sn0.7O2 samples, respectively. The prepared samples have been evaluated by photodegradation of methylene blue (MB). The results indicated that Zn2+ doping SnO2 (Zn0.3Sn0.7O2) was remarked the highest photocatalytic activity for the MB photodegradation. The improvement in the photocatalytic activity of Zn0.3Sn0.7O2 is attributed to hetero‐junctions of the ZnO/SnO2. The effect of doping Ni, Co, and Mn ions on the photocatalytic properties are insignificant in the photocatalytic activity of SnO2. The recycling tests indicated that ZnO/SnO2 was quite stable and there is no decrease in photocatalytic activity after five times repetition, indicating a promising catalyst for commercial applications.
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