Efficient photocatalytic activity of chitosan/tin oxide nanocomposite for environmental remediation

In this study, tin oxide (A-SnO2) nanoparticles (NPs) and Chitosan-tin oxide (CS-SnO2) nanocomposite were synthesized using an ammonia solution and chitosan. Thermal stability and degradation are analyzed using TG-DTA. The structural analysis and Rietveld refinement analysis of both synthesized nanoparticles indicate the presence of pure SnO2 NPs. Further, morphological analysis is used to identify the samples as spherical shapes. The UV spectra of both nanoparticles show that CS-SnO2 has a lower band gap energy than A-SnO2, increasing its photodegradation efficiency. The chemical bonding of the Sn-O-Sn functional groups and their valence state are confirmed by FT-IR absorption peaks and XPS spectrum. CS-SnO2 nanocomposite have the highest photo -degradation efficiency of approximately 95 %, which is due to the role of chitosan as a biopolymer in SnO2 nanoparticles. In addition, the effect of pH, and the stability of the catalyst are also tested. Thus, this study reveals the potential of A-SnO2 and CS-SnO2 for practical applications in wastewater cleaning and environmental remediation using visible-light-driven photocatalysis. The combination of Chitosan-tin oxide (CS-SnO2) can improve the degradation rate of organic dyes. This strategy provides a good application prospect for dye degradation.

Automated summary

Tin oxide (A-SnO2) nanoparticles and Chitosan-tin oxide (CS-SnO2) nanocomposite were synthesized, and their properties were analyzed. CS-SnO2 showed higher photodegradation efficiency due to its lower band gap energy compared to A-SnO2. The chemical bonding and valence state of the functional groups in CS-SnO2 were confirmed by FT-IR absorption peaks and XPS spectrum. CS-SnO2 exhibited the highest photo-degradation efficiency of about 95%, making it a promising material for wastewater cleaning and environmental remediation. The combination of chitosan and tin oxide improved the degradation rate of organic dyes, suggesting a potential application in dye degradation.