Synthesis of pure and cobalt (Co) doped SnO2 nanoparticles and its structural, optical and photocatalytic properties

Nanocrytalline tin oxide (SnO 2 ) nanoparticle along with cobalt (3 and 5%) was successfully synthesized by chemical precipitation method. The influence of Co doping on structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of SnO 2 nanoparticles were investigated by using powder X-ray diffraction, Transmission electron microscope, UV–Vis spectra, photoluminescence and Fourier infrared spectra analysis. The result shows that obtained SnO 2 have tetragonal rutile type structure and it has been found that the crystalline size for various concentration of Co (3 and 5%) was 41 and 32 nm respectively. UV–Vis spectra revealed that the band gap energy of pure and Co doped SnO 2 were 3.58, 3.32 and 3.12 eV respectively. The photocatalytic degradation of phenol and benzoic acid was systematically investigated by using Co–SnO 2 catalyst under UV irradiation. The result showed that Co doped SnO 2 possesses highest photocatalytic property as compared to pure SnO 2 . The photocatalytic mechanism of Co doped SnO 2 also is discussed.