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

Nanocrytalline tin oxide (SnO2) 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 SnO2 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 SnO2 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 SnO2 were 3.58, 3.32 and 3.12 eV respectively. The photocatalytic degradation of phenol and benzoic acid was systematically investigated by using Co–SnO2 catalyst under UV irradiation. The result showed that Co doped SnO2 possesses highest photocatalytic property as compared to pure SnO2. The photocatalytic mechanism of Co doped SnO2 also is discussed.