https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/s10051-025-01099-7
Research - Condensed Matter
Exploring the impact of Ag doping on improving the photocatalytic performance of SnO2 nanoparticles for dye degradation
1
Department of Physics, Mother Teresa Women’s University, 624102, Kodaikanal, India
2
Department of Physics, Arulmigu Palaniandavar College of Arts and Culture, 624602, Palani, India
3
Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), 600078, Chennai, India
4
Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMTS), Thandalam, 602105, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
5
Department of Chemistry, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, 641021, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
6
Centre for Material Chemistry, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, 641021, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
7
Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, 1000000, Arica, Chile
8
School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, 38541, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
a
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b
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Received:
20
June
2025
Accepted:
19
November
2025
Published online:
2
December
2025
Abstract
Silver-modified tin oxide (SnO2) nanomaterials with different amounts of additive (1, 3, and 5%) were prepared through a simple co-precipitation method to enhance their efficiency in photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under UV–visible light irradiation. Structural characterization by X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of a tetragonal rutile phase of SnO2 and in addition distinct reflections corresponding to face-centered cubic (FCC) phase of silver were observed upon doping, indicating the development of a dual-phase system comprising SnO2 and metallic Ag with crystallite sizes ranging from 12 to 24 nm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the functional group of the synthesized samples by revealing metal–oxygen bonding and surface hydroxyl groups. UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed a blue shift in the absorption edge and an increase in band gap energy with Ag incorporation, suggesting quantum confinement and reduced defect states. Scanning electron microscopy revealed agglomerated flake-like morphologies, and EDX verified the even distribution of Sn, O, and Ag, supporting compositional purity. Thermal analysis (TGA/DTA/DSC) showed melting point reduction upon increased dopant concentration, supporting the increased thermal stability. Photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation indicated that the highest degradation efficiency (81.53%) against methylene blue was achieved by 1% Ag-doped SnO2 due to enhanced charge carrier separation and localized surface plasmon resonance effects at low Ag concentration. These findings illustrate that fine-tuning Ag content is essential in achieving maximum photocatalytic efficiency in environmental remediation technologies.
Copyright comment Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
E. Jegalakshmi and M. Santhamoorthy equally contributed to this work.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, SIF and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
