Synthesis of Fe₂O₃@SnO₂ Core‐shell Nanocomposites via Thermal Decomposition Route and their Application as an Adsorbent

Abstract

In the current study, a thermal decomposition approach has been used to synthesize Fe2O3@SnO2 core‐shell nanocomposites in which Fe2O3 microsphere is the core and SnO2 is the shell. The thickness of shell (SnO2) is altered by varying amount of tin chloride pentahydrate (precursor of SnO2). Various characterization techniques were used to prove successful formation of Fe2O3@SnO2 core‐shell nanocomposites. XRD results confirm the presence of SnO2, α‐Fe2O3, and Fe3O4 in the calcined Fe2O3@SnO2 core‐shell nanocomposites. FE‐SEM and TEM studies reveal uniform deposition of SnO2 nanoparticles over the iron oxide microspheres. XPS analysis demonstrates the presence of Sn4+, Fe2+, Fe3+, and O2− in the Fe2O3@SnO2 core‐shell nanocomposites. Optical studies show that the Fe2O3@SnO2 core‐shell nanocomposites absorb in UV and visible regions. M−H studies on Fe2O3@SnO2 core‐shell nanocomposites indicate weak ferromagnetic and superparamagnetic behaviour of the nanocomposites at 5 K and 300 K, respectively. From M−T measurements, pure α‐Fe2O3 shows characteristic Morin transition (Tm), but the Fe2O3@SnO2 core‐shell nanocomposites do not show such transition. The Fe2O3@SnO2 core‐shell nanocomposites were explored as adsorbent for the removal of congo red (CR) from an aqueous solution.

Nanoarchitectonics of CdFe2O4 nanoparticles with different morphologies synthesized using a thermal decomposition approach and studies of their peroxidase-like activity

“…The peaks at 710.5 eV and 712.4 eV are assigned to Fe 2p 3/2 , confirming the +3 oxidation state of iron in CdFe 2 O 4 . 11,73,74 The asymmetry of Fe 2p 3/2 peaks suggest that Fe 3+ ions are distributed in both O h and T d sites of the CdFe 2 O 4 lattice. 73 The O 1s spectrum shows peaks at 529.9 eV and 531.0 eV, attributed to lattice oxygen and surface adsorbed H 2 O molecules, respectively.…”