Physical & enhanced photocatalytic properties of green synthesized SnO2 nanoparticles via Aspalathus linearis

This contribution reports on the synthesis and the main physical properties of n-type SnO2 nanoparticles synthesized for the first time by a completely green chemistry process using Aspalathus linearis's natural extract as an effective chelating agent. Their surface/interface and volume properties by X-rays diffraction, Raman, X-rays photoemission & photoluminescence spectroscopies are reported. Their average diameter ranging from 2.1 to 19.3 nm follows a thermal governed equation of < empty setparticles > = 1.048 10(-5) T-2 - 4.92 10(-3) T + 2.84. The smallest SnO2 nanoparticles exhibit effective photocatalytic responses to Methylene blue, Congo red and Eosin Y. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.