Preparation of Cd-doped SnO2 nanoparticles by sol-gel route and their optical properties

Nanocrystalline cadmium doped tin oxide (SnO2) powders of about 2.5-4.5 nm in size have been synthesized by using different solvents via sol-gel method. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), Transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM), UV-Vis absorption and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The PL emission spectra revealed that the band centered at 452 nm might be related with oxygen vacancies. A spherical, small rod and slice like morphologies of the prepared Cd-SnO2 nanoparticles were observed in the SEM and TEM studies. The presence of Cd modifies the structural, morphological and optical properties of the tin oxide nanoparticles.