Silver Quantum Dot Decorated 2D-SnO2 Nanoflakes for Photocatalytic Degradation of the Water Pollutant Rhodamine B

Abstract

Decoration of 2D semiconductor structures with heterogeneous metal quantum dots has attracted considerable attention due to advanced optical, electrical, and catalytic properties that result from the large surface-to-volume ratio associated with these structures. Herein, we report on silver quantum dot decorated 2D SnO2 nanoflakes for the photocatalytic abatement of water effluents, the synthesis of which was achieved through a straightforward and mild hydrothermal procedure. The photocatalysts were systematically investigated using UV–Vis, XRD, electron microscopy (SEM, HR-TEM), EDX, XPS and FTIR. The photocatalytic activity of the nanostructures was evaluated for the abatement of water pollutant rhodamine B (RhB), under light irradiation. The mild hydrothermal synthesis (100 °C) proved highly efficient for the production of large scale Ag quantum dot (QD)/SnO2 nanoflakes for a novel photocatalytic application. The decoration of SnO2 with Ag QDs significantly enhances the synergetic charge transfer, which diminishes the photo-induced electron-hole reunion. Moreover, the plasmonic effect from Ag QDs and 2D-SnO2 structures acts as an electron tank to collect the photo-induced electrons, generating a Schottky barrier between the SnO2 structures and quantum dots. Overall, this resulted in a facile and efficient degradation of RhB, with a rate double that of pristine SnO2.

In vitro inhibition of biofilm and virulence factor production in azole-resistant strains of Candida albicans isolated from diabetic foot by Artemisia vulgaris stabilized tin (IV) oxide nanoparticles

“…There is no detection of Sn (0) or Sn (II). Figure 5D shows the deconvoluted spectra of O1s, which is distribute in two peaks at 529.93 eV due to Sn (IV)−O bonds and 531.77 eV due to presence of C–OH bonds from plant extract ( Siva Kumar et al., 2019 ; Liu et al., 2021 ). Consequently, these peaks appear due to interaction between functional groups of plant extract and SnO 2 , which confirms the formation of AvTO-NPs.…”

Morphology-Governed Performance of Plasmonic Photocatalysts

“…It has been found that the photocatalytic efficiency of Au/TiO 2 (Au NPs selectively deposited on {001} facets) for vis-induced H 2 evolution depends on the content of {001} facets, i.e., activity increase with an increase in the content of {001}. Besides titania, other 2D materials have been examined, e.g., tin(IV) oxide nanoflakes (2D) modified with Ag NPs [119]. It has been proposed that the activity under vis irradiation is caused by electron transfer from Ag NPs, resulting from plasmonic excitation.…”

Chemical fabrication, structural characterization and photocatalytic water splitting application of Sr-doped SnO2 nanoparticles

“…Consequently, enhanced separation of the photo-induced charge carriers is observed, which inturn leads to the increase in the number of active sites, thereby resulting in the enhancement of photocatalytic performance [32,33]. So recently, among various metallic dopants [34,35], Sr is very effective in reducing the bandgap by forming intermediate energy band levels, and thus, there is an enhancement in the visible light absorption [36].…”