Title: Influence of solvent on morphological texture and catalytic activity of SnO₂ nanoparticles

Authors: Sudakhina Saikia; Pangkita Deka; Lakshi Saikia; Ramesh Chandra Deka

Addresses: Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Napaam 784028, Assam, India ' Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Napaam 784028, Assam, India ' Materials Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat 785006, Assam, India ' Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Napaam 784028, Assam, India

Abstract: Tin dioxide (SnO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesised via a direct (one-step) solvothermal route in the presence of ethanol as a solvent. The as-synthesised SnO₂ is well characterised by various analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and BET surface area analyses. The powder X-ray diffraction study reveals that the synthesised oxide adopts orthorhombic SnO₂ crystal structure. The transmission electron microscopic investigation shows the formation of nanoparticles with an average size of 6.44 nm. Moreover, the influence of the solvent on morphological and textural properties of as-synthesised SnO₂ is also explained. Further, the as-synthesised SnO₂ nanoparticles are employed for Friedel-Crafts benzoylation of anisole to produce 4-methoxybenzophenone. Various reaction parameters viz. effect of reaction temperature, effect of catalyst dosage, effect of solvation, and substrate ratio are also addressed for the acylation reaction. The SnO₂ NPs exhibit high catalytic activity for the acylation reaction of anisole. They also show high stability for the benzoylation with good recyclability up to five consecutive cycles.

Keywords: nanoparticles; solvothermal; benzoylation; acylation; activity; recyclability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2021.116159

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2021 Vol.18 No.5/6/7/8, pp.358 - 373

Published online: 12 Jul 2021 *

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