Preparation and characterization of SnO2 nanoparticles in aqueous solution of [EMIM][EtSO4] as a low cost ionic liquid using ultrasonic irradiation

A facile, template-free, room temperature and environmentally benign green route for the preparation of SnO₂ nanoparticles in aqueous solution of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate, [EMIM][EtSO₄], room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), via ultrasonic irradiation is proposed. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies display that the products are excellently crystallized in the form of tetragonal rutile structure. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) investigations reveal the products are pure. The morphology of as-prepared nanoparticles was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) of the products exhibit band gap energy of about 3.98 eV which shows blue shift of 0.38 eV that can be attributed to quantum confinement effect of SnO₂ nanoparticles. A possible formation mechanism of the SnO₂ nanoparticles using ultrasonic irradiation in aqueous solution of the RTIL is presented.