title: The enhanced photocatalytic and bactericidal activities of carbon microsphere-assisted solvothermally synthesized cocoon-shaped Sn(4+)-doped ZnO nanoparticles.
abstract: Cocoon-shaped Sn(4+)-doped ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized by a solvothermal method using carbon microspheres as a template. The optimum doping level for photocatalysis is 3% (g. atom). Powder X-ray diffractograms show that the ZnO has a primitive hexagonal crystal structure and that doping ZnO with Sn(4+) increases the unit cell lengths and the Zn-O bond lengths. Larger crystal growth along the c-axis is also observed. The measured size of the cocoon-shaped Sn(4+)-doped ZnO nanoparticles is larger than the mean crystallite size. Solid state impedance spectroscopy studies reveal that Sn(4+)-doping increases the charge transfer resistance. Doping does not significantly modify the optical band gap, but does suppress green emission. A decrease in the number of crystal defects due to oxygen vacancies is likely to be a reason for the enhanced photocatalytic properties of the cocoon-shaped Sn(4+)-doped ZnO nanoparticles. Doping ZnO with Sn(4+) enhances the bactericidal activity as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar 608002, Tamilnadu, India. karunakaranc@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Chockalingam
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karunakaran
authors.forename: SakthiDasan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: SakthiRaadha
authors.forename: Paramasivan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gomathisankar
authors.forename: Pazhamalai
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vinayagamoorthy
mesh_terms: D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000737:chemistry; D017971:Tin Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D012235:Rhodamines; D017971:Tin Compounds; C041694:stannic chloride; C029773:rhodamine B; D015034:Zinc Oxide