Synthesis and Characterization of Zn-doped SnO2 Nanoparticles through Co-Precipitation Technique: A Comprehensive Analysis

Abstract

Tin oxide (SnO₂) nanoparticles are of significant interest due to their unique properties and diverse applications. In this study, pristine and Zn-doped SnO₂ nanoparticles (with Zn doping levels of 1.9 wt% and 3.7 wt%) were successfully synthesized using the co-precipitation method, followed by annealing at 500 °C for 5 hours. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that all samples exhibited a tetragonal cassiterite structure, with crystallite sizes ranging from 22.5 nm to 28.2 nm, consistent with values obtained from the Williamson-Hall (W-H) plot. The nanoparticles demonstrated preferential orientation along the (110), (101), and (211) planes. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed that the Zn-doped SnO₂ nanoparticles had a denser microstructure compared to the pristine samples. The energy band gap, as determined by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, was found to be in the range of 3.10 eV to 3.16 eV. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed characteristic peaks at 459 cm⁻¹, 604 cm⁻¹, 924 cm⁻¹, 1976 cm⁻¹, 2117 cm⁻¹, and 3651 cm⁻¹, corresponding to the vibrations of various functional groups present in the material.