Green synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticle using Lycopersicon esculentum peel extract

Phytosynthesis and characterization of tin-oxide nanoparticles (SnO2-NPs) from Croton macrostachyus leaf extract and its application under visible light photocatalytic activities

Nanotechnology is rapidly becoming more and more important in today's technological world as the need for industry increases with human well-being. In this study, we synthesized SnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) using an environmentally friendly method or green method from Croton macrostachyus leaf extract, leading to the transformation of UV absorbance to visible absorbance by reducing the band gap energy. The products underwent UV, FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX, XPS, BET, and DLS for characterization. Characterization via UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed the shift in absorbance towards the visible spectrum, indicating the potential for enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. The energy band gap for as-synthesized nanoparticles was 3.03 eV, 2.71 eV, 2.61 eV, and 2.41 eV for the 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 sample ratios, respectively. The average crystal size of 32.18 nm and very fine flakes with tiny agglomerate structures of nanoparticles was obtained. The photocatalytic activity of the green-synthesized SnO2 nanoparticles was explored under visible light irradiation for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB), which were widespread fabric pollutants. It was finally confirmed that the prepared NPs were actively used for photocatalytic degradation. Our results suggest the promising application of these green-synthesized SnO2 NPs as efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation with low energy consumption compared to other light-driven processes. The radical scavenging experiment proved that hydroxyl radicals (_OH) are the predominant species in the reaction kinetics of both pollutant dyes under visible light degradation.

γ-Ray Irradiation Enables Annealing- and Light-Soaking-Free Solution Processable SnO2 Electron Transport Layer for Inverted Organic Solar Cells

The electrode buffer layer is crucial for high-performance and stable OSCs, optimizing charge transport and energy level alignment at the interface between the polymer active layer and electrode. Recently, SnO2 has emerged as a promising material for the cathode buffer layer due to its desirable properties, such as high electron mobility, transparency, and stability. Typically, SnO2 nanoparticle layers require a postannealing treatment above 150°C in an air environment to remove the surfactant ligands and obtain high-quality thin films. However, this poses challenges for flexible electronics as flexible substrates can't tolerate temperatures exceeding 100°C. This study presents solution-processable and annealing-free SnO2 nanoparticles by employing y-ray irradiation to disrupt the bonding between surfactant ligands and SnO2 nanoparticles. The SnO2 layer treated with y-ray irradiation is used as an electron transport layer in OSCs based on PTB7-Th:IEICO-4F. Compared to the conventional SnO2 nanoparticles that required high-temperature annealing, the y-SnO2 nanoparticle-based devices exhibit an 11% comparable efficiency without postannealing at a high temperature. Additionally, y-ray treatment has been observed to eliminate the light-soaking effect of SnO2. By eliminating the high-temperature postannealing and light-soaking effect, y-SnO2 nanoparticles offer a promising, cost-effective solution for future flexible solar cells fabricated using roll-to-roll mass processing.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)-Mediated Green Synthesis of Silver-Doped Tin Oxide Nanoparticles and Evaluation of Its Antimicrobial Activity

Green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extract is a novel development that has gained significant attention because of its low cost, nontoxicity, and environmental friendliness. In the present study, silver-doped stannic oxide (Ag-doped SnO2) nanoparticle was synthesized by an eco-friendly green synthesis method. The synthesized samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and their antimicrobial activities were assessed against two bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aurus) and two fungi Fusarium oxysporum (F. oxysporum) and Fusarium graminearum (F. graminearum) by using the disk diffusion method. Ag-doped SnO2 nanoparticles show a strong and broad absorption from UV-vis spectra when compared to pure SnO2 nanoparticles. FTIR spectral analysis revealed that the peak at 505.69 cm-1 was assigned to Sn-O and O-Sn-O stretching vibration of SnO2 nanoparticles. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of a tetragonal rutile structure with average particle size ranging from 10 to 17 nm. The antimicrobial result indicates that the Ag-doped SnO2 revealed significant antimicrobial activity against both bacterial and fungi strains with the zone of inhibition of 29 ± 0.54, 27 ± 0.05, 17 ± 0.05, and 15 ± 0.05 mm for S. aureus, E. coli, F. oxysporum , and F. graminearum, respectively. Thus, the studies suggested that Ag-doped SnO2 nanoparticles exhibit good activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. This is because doping SnO2 nanoparticles with metallic elements such as Ag has been used to enhance their performance, confirming them as a good candidate for antimicrobial agents and the development of future therapeutic agents.

Removal of Ni(II) from Aqueous Solution by Novel Lycopersicon esculentum Peel and Brassica botrytis Leaves Adsorbents

The current work reports adsorption of Ni(II) using Brassica botrytis leaves (BBL), Brassica botrytis leaves-activated carbon (BBL-AC), Lycopersicon esculentum peel (LEP) and Lycopersicon esculentum peel-activated carbon (LEP-AC). The adsorption of Ni(II) was tested in batch experiments by varying different parameters such as pH, initial metal ion concentration, temperature, adsorbent dosage, and contact time. Thermodynamics and kinetics investigations were performed for Ni removal. The adsorption of Ni(II) was improved by incorporation of activated carbon to the parental Brassica botrytis leaves and Lycopersicon esculentum peel adsorbents. The studies revealed 40 min of equilibrium time for Ni(II) adsorption by different adsorbents. Adsorption of Ni was drastically declined by temperature with a minimum adsorption of 53% observed for BBL. Similarly, solution pH also played a vital role in Ni(II) adsorption by different adsorbents. A 95% adsorption of Ni was recorded in the case of LEP-AC at pH 7. The study concluded with the application of Lycopersicon esculentum peel and Brassica botrytis leaves as active adsorbents for Ni(II) adsorption from aqueous solution.

Investigations into the Antifungal, Photocatalytic, and Physicochemical Properties of Sol-Gel-Produced Tin Dioxide Nanoparticles

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were applied to evaluate the tin dioxide nanoparticles (SnO₂ NPs) amalgamated by the sol-gel process. XRD was used to examine the tetragonal-shaped crystallite with an average size of 26.95 (±1) nm, whereas the average particle size estimated from the TEM micrograph is 20.59 (±2) nm. A dose-dependent antifun3al activity was performed against two fungal species, and the activity was observed to be increased with an increase in the concentration of SnO₂ NPs. The photocatalytic activity of SnO₂ NPs in aqueous media was tested using Rhodamine 6G (Rh-6G) under solar light illumination. The Rh-6G was degraded at a rate of 0.96 × 10^-2 min for a total of 94.18 percent in 350 min.

Tin oxide based nanostructured materials: synthesis and potential applications

In view of their inimitable characteristics and properties, SnO₂ nanomaterials and nanocomposites have been used not only in the field of diverse advanced catalytic technologies and sensors but also in the field of energy storage such as lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors, and in the field of energy production such as solar cells and water splitting. This review discusses the various synthesis techniques such as traditional methods, including processes like thermal decomposition, chemical vapor deposition, electrospinning, sol-gel, hydrothermal, solvothermal, and template-mediated methods and green methods, which include synthesis through plant-mediated, microbe-mediated, and biomolecule-mediated processes. Moreover, the advantages and limitations of these synthesis procedures and how to overcome them that would lead to future research are also discussed. This literature also focuses on various applications such as environmental remediation, energy production, energy storage, and removal of biological contaminants. Therefore, the rise and journey of SnO₂-based nanocomposites will motivate the modern generation of chemists to modify and design robust nanoparticles and nanocomposites that can effectively tackle significant environmental challenges. This overview concludes by providing future perspectives on research into tin oxide in synthesis and its various applications.