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Effect of Dielectric Constant of Solvents on the Particle Size and Bandgap of La/ SnO 2 ‐TiO 2 Nanoparticles and Their Catalytic Properties
Author(s) -
Farrukh Muhammad Akhyar,
Muneer Iqra,
Butt Komal Mehmood,
Batool Sadaf,
Fakhar Nazia
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of the chinese chemical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.329
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 2192-6549
pISSN - 0009-4536
DOI - 10.1002/jccs.201600205
Subject(s) - chemistry , catalysis , nanoparticle , particle size , analytical chemistry (journal) , scanning electron microscope , dielectric , tin oxide , band gap , ethylene glycol , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , inorganic chemistry , nuclear chemistry , chemical engineering , oxide , organic chemistry , materials science , optoelectronics , engineering , composite material
Lanthanum (La) supported on tin oxide‐titanium oxide ( SnO 2 ‐TiO 2 ) nanoparticles were prepared by a sol–gel method followed by a hydrothermal method. Effect of different solvents (ethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, ethylene glycol) on the particle size and catalytic activity was investigated. The nanomaterial was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X‐ray. The catalytic and optical properties were studied using solid‐phase spectrophotometry and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, respectively. Gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry ( GC‐MS ) was used to detect the intermediates during the catalytic degradation of methylene blue. It was observed that with decrease in the dielectric constant ( ε ) of the solvent, the bandgap and particle size decrease and catalytic efficiency increases. Hence, the highest catalytic activity was observed with the solvent having the least dielectric constant.