Synthesis of SnO2 Nanoparticles Using Fructose as Capping Agent by Hydrothermal Method
Retti Hanggia Anggela(a), Irfan Gustian(a), Sal Prima Yudha. S(b), Asdim(a*)
a) Division of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bengkulu, Jl. W.R Supratman, Kandang Limun 38371 A Bengkulu, Indonesia
*asdim[at]unib.ac.id
b) Division of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bengkulu, Jl. W.R Supratman, Kandang Limun 38371 A Bengkulu, Indonesia
Abstract
The application of SnO2 nanoparticles has been carried out in various fields, one of which is as photoelectrode on dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) due to their high electron mobility. In general the efficiency of DSSCs is absolutely dependent on the morphology of SnO2. Morphology in the form of aggregates could reduce the efficiency of DSSCs SnO2 nanoparticle based. The synthesis method to reduce the aggregate formation has been widely developed, one of which is green hydrothermal synthesis by the addition of capping agents. In this study, fructose was used as a capping agent in the synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticles using the hydrothermal method with a temperature variation of 120, 150 and 180 ⁰C which aims to reduce aggregate formation. The effect of adding fructose at different temperatures on the purity and morphology of SnO2 as synthesized was characterized using X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The obtained XRD pattern clearly shows that all products produce high purity of SnO2 nanocrystal phases, it was proven by the absence of impurity peaks. In addition, SEM images show that the addition of fructose could reduce the aggregate form of SnO2 nanoparticles. These results indicate that the addition of fructose in the reaction solution can be an alternative method for controlling the morphology of SnO2 nanoparticles and is expected to improve the efficiency of DSSCs.
Keywords: Nanoparticle, SnO2, Capping agent, Fructose
Topic: Nano Science and Technology