XVIII PHYSICS MEETING

August 15th - 16th, 2019, Faculty of Sciences, National University of Engineering (UNI),
Lima, Peru

Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic and

optoelectronic properties of quantum dots SnO2
Dwigth Acosta1, José Solis2, Mónica Gomes2, Paul Alvarado2.*
1 Institute of Physics, National Autonomous University of Mexico, CDMX, Mexico.
2 Faculty of Sciences, National University of Engineering, Lima – Peru.

Author's e - mail: paul721984@gmail.com

1. Abstract
In the present work, SnO2 quantum dots with size close to 2 nm were The photocatalytic degradation of methyl blue under UV-Visible irradiation was
successfully synthesized by means of the sonochemical method. Ultrasound compared with quantum dots SnO2 obtained by the sol-gel technique, these quantum
irradiating an aqueous solution of SnCl4.5 (H2O) 0.13M for a time of 150 min, dots (QDs) have an average particle size close to 4nm, while the quantum dots
at a constant temperature of 65ºC and using ammonium precipitation (at obtained by sonochemical method shows a particle size of 2 nm. The films used with
25%), quantum dots SnO2 were obtained, with crystallite size of 1.4 nm, the SnO2 QDs only need 4 dives (NPS - 4C) to completely degrade the methyl blue
4.3eV band gap, an optimal surface area of interac on of 92.70 m2/g was compared to the QDs synthesized by sol-gel that need 16 dives (S16C - 5) and more
obtained an optimal spectrum of energy in UV – Visible region. SnO2 time for degradation of the compound shown in Fig. 4. The Fig. 5, shows a band of
quantum dots were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission energies from the UV-Visible region for the QDs synthesized by sonochemical method
electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), specific under an excitation of 280 nm which confirms that this material has potential
optoelectronic properties.
area of surface interaction using nitrogen absorption assays (BET), diffuse
reflection spectroscopy UV - Visible; crystallite size of SnO2 was performed Fig.4 As a reference in red marks, it is
using the Topas Academic software (Version 3.0). Also Photocatalytic 1,0 shown the degradation effect made by a
S16C-5 sol-gel thin film of SnO2 deposited on
properties in the degradation of methyl blue and optoelectronics behavior NPS-4C
0,8 sodalime glass substrate. It is worthy to
were studied. note that the sol-gel film was
2. Experimental and results:
Ct/C0

0,6 manufactured with 16 immersions in the

Sn containing solution. On the other
The quantum dots were characterized by X-ray diffraction, obtaining a 0,4 hand, SnO2 films synthetized by
crystallite size of 1.4nm (Fig. 1); diffuse reflection spectrometry (Fig.2); sonochemical method, only required 4
clusters SnO2 QD with nanometric sizes were frequently found in HRTEM 0,2 inmersions in the corresponding solution.
(Fig.3) and STEM dark field (Fig.4) micrographs. Fig.5 shows the morphology In fact, the nanoparticle covering does
of SnO2 powders and chemical composition of the quantum dots SnO2
0,0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
not waste too much material as
compared with the processing of sol-gel
IrradiationTime (min)
film, with a significant saving of
SnO2
precursor, time and energy.

exc = 280nm SnO2

2
[F(R) h]

Intensidad (u.a.)

406.81nm
Eg = 4.3 eV 446.06nm
3.6 3.8 4.0 4.2 4.4 4.6 4.8 5.0
428.12nm
h (eV) 488.59nm
Fig.1 A typical X-Rays diffraction 373.80nm
Fig.2 Diffuse reflection spectrum.
pattern of SnO2. samples.
465.60nm
348.56nm

350 400 450 500

1 SnO2 Quantum dots with size close of 2 nm, 4.3 eV band - gap and 92.7m2/g of
Fig.3 SEM and HRTEM micrographs
of quantum dots of SnO2.
 (nm)
Fig.5 Spectrum of energy bands of the excitons of the
quantum dots SnO2 synthesized by the sonochemical
method for an external excitation of 280nm.
3. Conclusions
3
selective area of surface interaction were successfully synthesized by the
Fig.4 A dark field STEM sonochemical method. This is a versatile, efficient, effective, low-cost and
micrograph of a SnO2 quantum industrially scalable method, with potential optoelectronic properties in the UV –
dots cluster. Visible range for applications in photocatalysis, lasers, biosensors, supercapacitors,
solar cells among other high-end devices.
References
Fig.5 The EDS spectra [1] A. Diallo, E. Manikandan, V. Rajendran, M. Maaza, Physical & enhanced photocatalytic
confirms the chemical properties of green synthesized SnO2 nanoparticles via Aspalathus linearis, Journal of Alloys and
composition of SnO2 Compounds 681 (2016) 561 – 570.
quantum dots. [2] Manish Kumar Singh, Mohan Chandra Mathpal, Arvind Agarwal, Optical properties of SnO2
quantum dots synthesized by laser ablation in liquid, Chemical Physics Letters 536 (2012) 87 -
91.
Acknowledgement.Financial support of UNAM-DGAPA IN102419 is appreciated and recognized