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Tin oxide (SnO2), with its low resistivity properties and high transparency in the visible spectrum, makes it an attractive electron transfer layer (ETL) for use in perovskite solar cells. Here, we use two techniques, coprecipitation and solvothermal, to synthesize pure and 4% copper‐doped SnO2. The X‐ray diffraction patterns revealed that the films synthesized using both methods have a crystalline structure with a tetragonal arrangement. Furthermore, the lack of any secondary peaks indicated the absence of mixed tin oxide (Sn2O4) or copper oxide (CuO) components. Additionally, it demonstrated that adding a 4% Cu doping concentration reduced the crystal size in both methods. The optical results indicate adequate transmission in the central range of the visible spectrum. Calculations were performed to find the energy gap of pure SnO2 in both techniques to be 3.85 eV and 4.17 eV, respectively. When we doped SnO2 with 4% Cu, this band gap energy decreased to 3.75 eV and 3.9 eV. Furthermore, with 4% Cu doping, the particle size decreases, as demonstrated by FESEM. The EDX spectroscopy images revealed that the synthesized nanoparticles consisted of copper, oxygen, and tin. The analysis of functional groups using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and the roughness analysis using AFM images showed a decrease in roughness from 46.1 nm to 12.3 nm in doped samples prepared by solvothermal synthesis, compared to those synthesized by the coprecipitation technique from 4.7 nm to 0.3 nm. We discovered that Cu plays an essential role in reducing nanocrystalline SnO2 particle sizes. In addition, the solvothermal technique is more impressive than coprecipitation in the synthesis of tin oxide nanostructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible perovskite solar cells (f-PSCs) have achieved significant success. However, high-quality tin dioxide (SnO2) electron transport layers (ETLs) fabricated via chemical bath deposition (CBD) have not been achieved on flexible PEN/ITO substrates. This limitation is primarily due to the corrosion of the poor-quality ITO layer by the strongly acidic CBD solution. Here, we analyzed the reasons for the poor corrosion resistance of ITO films on PEN substrate from multiple perspectives, such as element composition, microstructure, and crystallinity. Then, we proposed a modified CBD method for SnO2 films suitable for flexible PEN/ITO substrates. We employed SnCl2·2H2O as the tin source and regulated the pH of the CBD solution by NH3·H2O, which effectively avoided the corrosion of the ITO layer by the CBD solution and achieved high-quality SnO2 films on the ITO layers. Compared to the commercial SnO2 dispersion, the SnO2 films prepared by this method have smaller grains and higher transmittance. As a result, we achieved an unprecedented power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.71% for f-PSCs fabricated on PEN/ITO substrates with SnO2 ETLs by CBD method. This breakthrough facilitates the development of high-performance f-PSCs by a low-cost and large-scale chemical bath deposition of high-quality ETLs on flexible substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia, recognized as a perilous compound for both environmental and human health, necessitates detection of its varied concentrations in the air for environmental conservation and safety. This study introduces a novel self-powered ammonia gas sensor, operating at room temperature using a chitosan and tin dioxide (SnO₂) composite film. Designed based on the galvanic cell principle, the sensor eliminates the need for external power sources, making it ideal for various environmental and industrial applications. Advanced morphological and compositional analyses were conducted through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), confirming the effective integration of SnO₂ into the chitosan matrix, enhancing surface oxygen content and porosity. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed NH₂ groups in chitosan that interact with ammonia gas. The sensor demonstrated exceptional sensitivity and selectivity towards ammonia, with peak sensitivity reaching 26.13% at 50 ppm, significantly higher than pure chitosan's 17.14%. The sensor showed a substantial increase in electrical voltage in response to ammonia, effectively distinguishing it from gases such as acetone, ethanol, and toluene. This superior performance is attributed to the interaction between ammonia and NH₂ groups in chitosan, which promotes the release of trapped electrons. This research marks a significant advancement in gas detection technology, offering an eco-friendly, efficient, and reliable method for ammonia monitoring, essential for environmental protection and industrial safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) modified tin dioxide microspheres (MTMS/SnO2) were prepared by a facile hydrothermal method and heated reflux reaction strategy. The characterization results indicate that the modification of MTMS induced the formation of a hydrophobic network within the composites, while maintaining abundant adsorbed oxygen species. Subsequently, the MTMS/SnO2 microspheres were used as a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coating for the efficient extraction and sensitive determination of trace polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in aqueous solutions coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. MTMS/SnO2 coating exhibited superior extraction performances for PCBs compared with commercial SPME and pure SnO2 microspheres coatings, owing to the hydrophobic crosslinking and adsorbed oxygen-enhanced hydrogen bonding. The proposed analytical method presented respectable linearity in the concentration range 0.25–1000 ng L−1, with low limits of detection varying from 0.036 to 0.14 ng L−1 for seven PCBs and excellent precision, with relative standard deviations of 5.7–9.8% for a single fiber and 8.2–13.1% for five fibers. Finally, the proposed method was successfully used for determination of PCBs in real water with recoveries ranging from 75.8 to 115.6%. This study proposed a new type SPME coating of MTMS/SnO2 microspheres, which extended the potential of SnO2 in capturing and determining organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial engineering is of great concern in photovoltaic devices. Metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have garnered much attention due to their impressive development in power conversion efficiencies (PCEs). Benefiting from high electron mobility and good energy-level alignment with perovskite, aqueous SnO2 as an electron transport layer has been widely used in n-i-p perovskite solar cells. However, the interfacial engineering of an aqueous SnO2 layer on PSCs is still an obscure and confusing process. Herein, we proposed the preparation of n-i-p perovskite solar cells with different concentrations of SnO2 as electron transport layers and achieved optimized PCE with an efficiency of 20.27%. I Interfacial engineering with regard to the SnO2 layer is investigated by observing the surface morphology, space charge-limited current (SCLC) with the use of an electron-only device, and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) of perovskite films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a sensor capable of selectively detecting hydrogen levels in the environment holds immense importance for ensuring the safer utilization of hydrogen energy. In this study, a hydrogen sensor made of Ce-doped single-layer graphene (SLG)/SnO2 composite material was fabricated using a hydrothermal method. The study examined the impact of varying Ce doping concentrations on the hydrogen sensing capabilities of the SLG/SnO2 matrix. The results show that the SLG/SnO2 hydrogen sensor doped with 2 mol% Ce demonstrated optimal performance at a humidity of 20%. It operated most efficiently at 250 °C, with a response of 2.49, representing a 25.75% improvement over the undoped sample. The response/recovery times were 0.46/3.92 s, which are 54.9% shorter than those of the undoped sample. The enhancement in hydrogen sensitivity stems from the synergistic effect of Ce and SLG, which facilitates the coexistence of n–n and p–n heterojunctions, thereby increasing carrier mobility and refining grain structure. Analysis via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveals that Ce increases the material's oxygen vacancy concentration, enhancing its hydrogen sensitivity. Ce-doped SLG/SnO2, with its robust hydrogen sensitivity, represents one of the leading candidates for future hydrogen gas sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface plasmon resonance‐based fiber optic sensors with Ag‐SnO2 and Ag‐ZnS bi‐layers are proposed experimentally and compared in detail in terms of sensitivity. Effect of SnO2 and ZnS layer thicknesses on the sensitivity is examined. Largest sensitivities are achieved by sensors with 40 nm Ag‐10 nm SnO2 layers and 40 nm Ag‐10 nm ZnS layers. Sensor with 40 nm Ag‐10 nm SnO2 layers is found to demonstrate better sensitivity than that with 40 nm Ag‐10 nm ZnS layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dye-sensitized solar cell with a scattering layer as a light mobility enhancer has been fabricated in this work. The cells were fabricated with two types of semiconductor materials which are Titanium dioxide and Tin dioxide. Natural sensitizer from Pandan leaves was also used as an electron generator combined with liquid electrolyte redox couple Iodide/Tri-Iodide. The photovoltaic performance was measured with four types of semiconductor configurations. It was Titanium dioxide only, Titanium dioxide with scattering layer, Tin dioxide only and Tin dioxide with scattering layer. Pandan dyes have higher photovoltaic performance when fabricated with scattering layers in both semiconductor cells. The scattering layer has boosted the light management inside the photo-anode film and increased the Photo-conversion efficiency. Photo-conversion efficiency parameters such as short-circuit current and open circuit voltage were monitored to improve compared to cells without the scattering layer. Higher electron injection were contributed from the increase of light path on photo-anode film with scattering layers. The incident photon-to-current efficiency graph confirmed that the cells with Titanium dioxide with scattering layer had a higher photon-to-current density than the cells with Tin dioxide only on 300 to 500 nm. The incident photon-to-current efficiency of the device with Tin dioxide with scattering layer was higher than that of the device with Tin dioxide only in the wavelength range of 300 to 700 nm, the dominant effect of the scattering layer was found to affect more in Tin dioxide than Titanium dioxide semiconductors on low to high wavelength of the incident photon-to-current efficiency. It concludes that light management is an important strategy to improve the performance of low-cost and eco-friendly solar cells. This strategy is suitable to enhance the efficiency of DSSC for further low-cost solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tin oxide (SnO2) varistor is a most promising pressure-sensitive material. To improve its stability in practical operation, this paper constructs a numerical simulation model of the varistor based on the Voronoi network model in computational materials science, and investigates the effect of calcium doping on its microstructure and comprehensive electrical properties. The experimental and computational results showed that the best electrical properties were obtained when the Ca doping concentration was 0.04 mol%, with an E1mA of 693 V/mm, JL of 12.3 µA/cm2, and an ɑ of 26.97. Finally, an AC accelerated aging test was performed on a sample doped with 0.04 mol% Ca (0.9 E1mA/135 °C/160 h), and the minimum value of Kt was 0.316. This study provides an experimental basis for the development of SnO2 varistors with high stability and economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a unique combination of three components in the form of a ternary nanocomposite, PANI/CD/SnO2, for ammonia gas sensing at room temperature. This nanocomposite was synthesized via in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline, in which other components were incorporated to form binary PANI/CD and ternary PANI/CD/SnO2 nanocomposites. The fabrication process initially involved optimization of the PANI/CD nanocomposite and then incorporation of an optimized amount of SnO2 to finally produce the ternary PANI/CD/SnO2 nanocomposite. The ternary composite demonstrated better sensing properties than those of both PANI/CD (1:0.5) and pristine PANI in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and response time over a concentration range of 5–100 ppm NH3. The response of the PANI/CD/SnO2 nanocomposite was 21.6% towards 100 ppm NH3, which was higher than that of pure PANI and the PANI/CD nanocomposite. The ternary composite exhibited higher selectivity for ammonia over other gases as compared to PANI and the PANI/CD (1:0.5) nanocomposite. The PANI/CD/SnO2 composite also achieved a shorter response time (94 s) than pure PANI (162 s) and the PANI/CD (144 s) composite, and it demonstrated a nearly linear variation in response with the analyte concentration. High repeatability and long-term stability further enhanced the possibility of real-world application of the proposed ternary nanocomposite for practical room-temperature ammonia sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a hazardous gas emanating from various sources including vehicles, industrial power plants, indoor combustion appliances, and tobacco smoke, underscores the importance of effective monitoring. Early risk assessment and continuous vigilance are vital to mitigate potential respiratory and cardiovascular consequences associated with prolonged exposure. To address this need, we have developed a cost-effective metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived SnO2-ZnO-based gas sensor for NO2 detection. Different combinations of SnO2-ZnO were synthesized by varying the Sn/Zn molar ratio. The sensor SZ 1–0.5, having Sn/Zn = 1/0.5, demonstrated a superior response (Rg/Ra = 7.37) compared to bare SnO2 and ZnO towards 100 ppm of NO2 at 225°C. The fabricated SZ 1–0.5 sensor showed a good response time of 100 s with outstanding selectivity, cyclability, and repeatability. The enhanced gas-sensing characteristics of the sensor are attributed to the formation of heterojunctions. The gas-sensing mechanism is discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin dioxide (SnO2) is an important transparent conductive oxide (TCO), highly desirable for its use in various technologies due to its earth abundance and non-toxicity. It is studied for applications such as photocatalysis, energy harvesting, energy storage, LEDs, and photovoltaics as an electron transport layer. Elemental doping has been an established method to tune its band gap, increase conductivity, passivate defects, etc. In this study, we apply density functional theory (DFT) calculations to examine the electronic and optical properties of SnO2 when doped with members of the oxygen family, namely S, Se, and Te. By calculating defect formation energies, we find that S doping is energetically favourable in the oxygen substitutional position, whereas Se and Te prefer the Sn substitutional site. We show that S and Se substitutional doping leads to near gap states and can be an effective way to reduce the band gap, which results in an increased absorbance in the optical part of the spectrum, leading to improved photocatalytic activity, whereas Te doping results in several mid-gap states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin dioxide (SnO2), one of the best electron transport layer materials for perovskite solar cells (PSCs), has high electrical conductivity and low photocatalytic activity. However, the defects in its inside and surface result in nonradiative recombination at the SnO2/perovskite interface. Complex and time‐consuming passivation methods are not conducive to the commercialization of PSCs, and simple passivation strategies should be used to improve the photovoltaic performance of the devices. Herein, a facile and efficient method is proposed to simultaneously passivate the inside and surface defects by adding histidine (HIS) to SnO2 colloidal solution. This one‐step doping strategy also modulates carrier dynamics at the SnO2/perovskite interface. HIS reduces suspended hydroxyl groups, oxygen vacancies, and uncoordinated Sn4+ defects on the surface of SnO2, as well as uncoordinated Pb2+ and halogen vacancy defects at the buried interface of perovskite. Surprisingly, HIS can prevent perovskite from decomposition to form PbI2, which further decomposes to photoactive metallic Pb0 and I, causing ion migration in PSC. As a result, the PSC efficiency has significantly improved 23.11% after HIS doping. The efficiency of unencapsulated device with HIS is 94% of the primary efficiency after storage in relative humidity = 70 ± 5% for 1000 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, pure ZnO, SnO2, and ZnO‐SnO2 nanostructured composites (Z‐S heterostructure) are fabricated by a facile and environmental savvy hydrothermal method at 230°C for 12 hours and followed by high‐temperature annealing. The synthesized samples were examined to analyse the structural and optical characteristics using XRD, TEM, XPS, and UV‐DRS techniques. Investigate the photocatalytic activity (PCA) of pure ZnO, SnO2, and Z‐S heterostructure for the decolorization of methylene blue (MB) model pollutant in wastewater using visible light irradiation. XRD analysis reveals that ZnO and SnO2 exhibit hexagonal wurtzite structure and tetragonal rutile structure. TEM micrographs infer the nanorod‐like structure of ZnO, nanoflake‐like structure of SnO2, and a thin nanosheet‐like structure of Z‐S. XPS analysis evidence for the presence of constitutes elements and Zn+2, Sn+2, O−2 valance states along with environmental peaks in Z‐S heterostructure. The optical band gaps of ZnO (3.37 eV), SnO2 (3.6 eV), and Z‐S heterostructure (2.84 eV) are inferred by UV‐DRS analysis, together with evidence for the red shift. Under two hours of visible light illumination, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of MB dye in pure ZnO, SnO2, and Z‐S heterostructure is 38.55, 32.68, and 82.45%. The formation of a unique Z‐S heterostructure and the maximum departure of charge carriers are the reasons for obtaining robust degradation activity than pristine ZnO and SnO2. MB dye degradation process in the presence of Z‐S heterostructure photocatalyst, the reusability test findings, and the suggested charge separation technique for customizing Z‐S heterostructure photocatalyst under visible light irradiation is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) while enlarging the active area is necessary for their industrialization, where the key part is the uniform carrier extraction. Here, a conformal electron transport layer (ETL) is reported with eliminated low‐conductive contacts through a tailored deposition that combines chemical bath deposition and modified spin‐coating on a light‐managing textured substrate. The KPFM and C‐AFM are utilized to prove the uniform and optimized electrical properties. This study further employs the 2D measurements of PL and TRPL mapping to focus on revealing the enhanced uniformity of electron extraction. The uniform ETL conductivity and electron extraction contribute to a substantial decrease in device up‐scaling losses, making the δPCE (PCE0.08−PCE1PCE0.08)$\frac{{{\mathrm{PC}}{{{\mathrm{E}}}_{0.08}} - {\mathrm{PC}}{{{\mathrm{E}}}_1}}}{{{\mathrm{PC}}{{{\mathrm{E}}}_{0.08}}}})\ $ between 0.08 cm2‐device and 1 cm2‐device decrease from 5.02% to 2.97%, while the perovskite film is deposited using two‐step method. When using one‐step method to deposit perovskite film, PCEs of 25.13% and 23.93% for the active area of 0.08 cm2 and 1 cm2 are achieved, and the δPCE decreases from 7.89% to 4.77%, validating the significant effects on reducing up‐scaling losses. This work provides a new perspective to maintain high efficiency while device up‐scaling, providing more opportunities to push forward the PSCs industrialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rationale for low performances in perovskite solar cells with buried interface still needs to be clarified, owing to the complicated physiochemistry of metal oxides/perovskite interface, and literature offers a meager knowledge about the reactions at this interface. While exploring the SnO2/perovskite interfacial interactions, the reasons behind deteriorating perovskite at the interface are comprehensively investigated, and it is revealed that the PbI2 residue and metallic Pb0 are the byproducts of this decomposed perovskite. Introducing an optimized amount of Ti3C2TX at the SnO2/perovskite interface detaches the SnO2 hydroxyls, which are found to be responsible for interfacial ion migrations. In addition, Ti3C2TX passivates the interface defects via its functional groups and establishes ballistic pathways for electrons with high chances of non‐radiative recombination. Thus, 25.19% (certified as 24.41%) of efficiency with superior long‐term operational stability is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of tin dioxide (SnO2) thin films as electron transport layer (ETL) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has been facilitated by commercial SnO2 nanocolloid dispersion. Nevertheless, challenges such as nanoparticle agglomeration have emerged, impacting film quality and interface properties critical for PSC performance. Herein, the efficacy of sequential, multistep spin‐coating of repeatedly diluted SnO2 aqueous suspension as a simple and effective approach to enhance ETL properties is explored. Through systematic experiments using dynamic light scattering, cyclic voltammetry, optical spectroscopy, and photoconductivity, it is demonstrated that the sequential deposition significantly improves the flatness and coverage of SnO2, leading to improved electron transport and transfer from a perovskite layer. Such a synergetic effect enables to fabricate lead iodide PSC (FAPbI3, FA: formamidinium) with a power conversion efficiency of 22.99% compared to 20.48% for the conventional 1‐step SnO2 layer. The findings underscore the potential of sequential SnO2 deposition as a promising technique for robust SnO2 films of photoelectric conversion devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The n-type semiconductor SnO2 with a wide band gap (3.6 eV) is massively used in gas-sensitive materials, but pure SnO2 still suffers from a high operating temperature, low response, and tardy responding speed. To solve these problems, we prepared small-sized pure SnO2 using hydrothermal and freeze-drying methods (SnO2-FD) and compared it with SnO2 prepared using a normal drying method (SnO2-AD). The sensor of SnO2-FD had an ultra-high sensitivity to NO2 at 100 °C with excellent selectivity and humidity stability. The outstanding gas sensing properties are attributed to the modulation of energy band structure and the increased carrier concentration, making it more accessible for electron exchange with NO2. The excellent gas sensing properties of SnO2-FD indicate its tremendous potential as a NO2 sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dioctyl phthalate (DOP) serves as a characteristic gas utilized in early electrical fire detection, its detection offers promising prospects for the prevention of electrical fires. In this study, we employed a modified photodeposition method to prepare Tin dioxide (SnO2) materials co‐modified with Au and oxygen vacancies. Subsequently, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) gas sensor for DOP detection were fabricated, utilizing 0.5 %Au/SnO2−I as the sensing material. Characterization results reveal the presence of abundant oxygen vacancies in 0.5 %Au/SnO2−I. The synergistic interplay of Au and oxygen vacancies resulted in a remarkable response of 9.98 to 20 ppm of DOP at operational temperature of 250 °C. This represents a significant 96 % enhancement in comparison to the response value of 4.50 exhibited by pure SnO2 at 300 °C. Notably, this gas sensor boasts low power consumption and demonstrates a quick response in the detection of overheating polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cables under simulated conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new approach for the thermal reduction of tin dioxide (SnO2) in the carbon/sodium sulfite (Na2SO3) system is demonstrated. The process of tin smelting was experimentally optimized by adjusting the smelting temperature and amounts of the chemical components used for the thermal reduction of SnO2. The numbers obtained are consistent with the thermodynamic characteristics of the system and molar fractions of reactants derived from the proposed mechanism of the SnO2 thermal reduction process. They reveal that the maximum yield of tin is obtained if masses of C, Na2SO3 and SnO2 are approximately in the ratio 1:2:3 and the temperature is set to 1050 °C. The key role in the suggested mechanism is the thermal decomposition of Na2SO3. It was deduced from the available experimental data that the produced sulfur dioxide undergoes carbothermic reduction to carbonyl sulfide—an intermediate product involved in the bulk reduction of SnO2. Replacing sodium sulfite with sodium sulfate, sodium sulfide and even elemental sulfur practically terminated the production of metallic tin. The kinetic analysis was focused on the determination of the reaction orders for the two crucial reactants involved in the smelting process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Au addition on the acetone response of Cu2O-added porous SnO2 (pr-Cu2O-SnO2) powders, which were synthesized by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis employing polymethyl methacrylate microspheres as a template, were investigated in this study. The 3.0 wt% Au-added pr-Cu2O-SnO2 sensor showed the largest acetone response among all sensors. In addition, the magnitude of the acetone response was much larger than those of the ethanol and toluene responses. The catalytic activities of these gases over Au-added pr-Cu2O-SnO2 powders were also examined to clarify the key factors affecting their acetone-sensing properties. The Au addition increased the complete oxidation activity of all gases, and the complete oxidation activity of acetone was much higher than those of ethanol and toluene. These results indicate that the oxidation behavior during the gas-diffusion process in the sensitive Au-added pr-Cu2O-SnO2 layer of the sensors is quite important in enhancing the acetone-sensing properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of synthesis methods and electrode geometry on the physico-chemical properties of 5%Gd-doped SnO2. Two distinct synthesis routes, co-precipitation and hydrothermal growth, were employed, resulting in powders denoted as SnO2: Gd 5%-CP and SnO2: Gd 5%-HT. Morpho-structural and textural analyses reveal a uniform morphology consisting of quasi-spherical nanoparticles with dimensions of ~6 nm and mesoporosity for CP and a non-uniform morphology with larger nanoparticles of ~42 nm, with irregular shapes and macroporosity for the HT sample, respectively. The powders were deposited onto alumina substrates equipped with platinum interdigital electrodes with alternative gaps of 200 μm and 100 μm. The back-side heater allows for variation in the temperature of the layer. Sensing properties assessed under in-field-like atmospheres simulated by a computer-controlled Gas Mixing System reveal higher sensitivity to methane compared to carbon dioxide. Although the sensor signals did not differ quantitatively, they exhibited distinct saturation tendencies with an increasing methane concentration, attributed to the morpho-structure and porosity induced by the synthesis method. Differentiation was achieved by varying the interdigital gap of the electrodes, highlighting different sensor signals and conduction mechanisms, determined by the specific size of the crystallites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we successfully synthesized a Pd-doped SnO2 (Pd-SnO2) material with a flower-like hierarchical structure using the solvothermal method. The material's structural proper-ties were characterized employing techniques such as XRD, XPS, FESEM and HRTEM. A gas sensor fabricated from the 2.0 mol% Pd-SnO2 material demonstrated exceptional sensitivity (Ra/Rg = 106) to 100 ppm ethanolamine at an operating temperature of 150 °C, with rapid response/recovery times of 10 s and 12 s, respectively, along with excellent linearity, selectivity, and stability, and a detection limit down to 1 ppm. The superior gas-sensing performance is attributed to the distinctive flower-like hierarchical architecture of the Pd-SnO2 and the lattice distortions introduced by Pd doping, which substantially boost the material's sensing characteristics. Further analysis using density functional theory (DFT) has revealed that within the Pd-SnO2 system, Sn exhibits strong affinities for O and N, leading to high adsorption energies for ethanolamine, thus enhancing the system's selectivity and sensitivity to ethanolamine gas. This research introduces a novel approach for the efficient and rapid detection of ethanolamine gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a straightforward and cost-effective method to enhance the photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting performance of α-Fe2O3 (F), SnO2 (S), and α-Fe2O3 decorated with SnO2 quantum dots (FS) photoanodes in a NaOH electrolyte. The FS electrode demonstrated a notable improvement in PEC efficiency within the electrolyte. In particular, the generated charges of the FS anode in the NaOH electrolyte reached approximately 12.01 mA cm−2 under illumination, indicating that the developed heterostructures effectively enhanced kinetics, leading to improved separation of induced carrier pairs. This active carrier-pair separation mechanism contributed considerably to the increased PEC activity in the 0.1 M NaOH electrolyte. The reduction in the bandgap of FS increased its absorption capability in visible light, which further enhanced the current density. Furthermore, the reduction in electrolyte resistance (9.71 Ω), internal resistance (20.19 Ω), charge transfer resistance (3.21 kΩ), Tafel slope (45.5 mV dec-1), limiting current density (−2.09 mA cm−2), and exchange current density (−3.68 mA cm−2) under illumination at the interface enhanced the charge density of FS. Further, a strong interaction among photoanode nanostructures significantly enhances PEC activity by improving efficient charge separation and transport, reducing recombination rates, and enabling quicker movement of charge carriers to the electrode/electrolyte interface. Thus, this study provides an effective approach to increasing the PEC activity of heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethanol sensors have found extensive applications across various industries, including the chemical, environmental, transportation, and healthcare sectors. With increasing demands for enhanced performance and reduced energy consumption, there is a growing need for developing new ethanol sensors. Micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) devices offer promising prospects in gas sensor applications due to their compact size, low power requirements, and seamless integration capabilities. In this study, SnO2-TiO2 nanocomposites with varying molar ratios of SnO2 and TiO2 were synthesized via ball milling and then printed on MEMS chips for ethanol sensing using electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing. The study indicates that the two metal oxides dispersed evenly, resulting in a well-formed gas-sensitive film. The SnO2-TiO2 composite exhibits the best performance at a molar ratio of 1:1, with a response value of 25.6 to 50 ppm ethanol at 288 °C. This value is 7.2 times and 1.8 times higher than that of single SnO2 and TiO2 gas sensors, respectively. The enhanced gas sensitivity can be attributed to the increased surface reactive oxygen species and optimized material resistance resulting from the chemical and electronic effects of the composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid metal‐based printing techniques are emerging as an exemplary platform for harvesting non‐layered 2D materials with a thickness down to a few nanometres, leading to an ultra‐large surface‐area‐to‐volume ratio that is ideal for sensing applications. In this work, the synthesis of 2D tin dioxide (SnO2) by exfoliating the surface oxide of molten tin is reported which highlights the enhanced sensing capability of the obtained materials to ammonia (NH3) gas is reported. It is demonstrated that amperometric gas sensors based on liquid metal‐derived 2D SnO2 nanosheets can achieve excellent NH3 sensing performance at low temperature (150 °C) with and without UV light assistance. Detection over a wide range of NH3 concentrations (5–500 ppm) is observed, revealing a limit of detection at the parts per billion (ppb) level. The 2D SnO2 nanosheets also feature excellent cross‐interference performance toward different organic and inorganic gas species, showcasing a high selectivity. Further, ab initio DFT calculations reveal the NH3 adsorption mechanism is dominated by chemisorption with a charge transfer into 2D SnO2 nanosheets. In addition, a proof of concept for prototype flexible ammonia sensors is demonstrated by depositing 2D SnO2 on a polyimide substrate, signifying the high potential of employing liquid metal printed SnO2 for realizing wearable gas sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin dioxide is regarded as an alternative anode material rather than graphite due to its high theoretical specific capacity. Modification with carbon is a typical strategy to mitigate the volume expansion effect of SnO2 during the charge process. Strengthening the interface bonding is crucial for improving the electrochemical performance of SnO2/C composites. Here, SnO2-embedded reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite with a low graphene content of approximately 5 wt.% was in situ synthesized via a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-assisted hydrothermal method. The structural integrity of the SnO2/rGO composite is significantly improved by optimizing the Sn–O–C electronic structure with CTAB, resulting a reversible capacity of 598 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at a current density of 1 A g−1. CTAB-assisted synthesis enhances the rate performance and cyclic stability of tin dioxide/graphene composites, and boosts their application as the anode materials for the next-generation lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research enhances ethanol sensing with Fe-doped tetragonal SnO2 films on glass, improving gas sensor reliability and sensitivity. The primary objective was to improve the sensitivity and operational efficiency of SnO2 sensors through Fe doping. The SnO2 sensors were synthesized using a flexible and adaptable method that allows for precise doping control, with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirming homogeneous Fe distribution within the SnO2 matrix. A morphological analysis showed a surface structure ideal for gas sensing. The results demonstrated significant improvement in ethanol response (1 to 20 ppm) and lower temperatures compared to undoped SnO2 sensors. The Fe-doped sensors exhibited higher sensitivity, enabling the detection of low ethanol concentrations and showing rapid response and recovery times. These findings suggest that Fe doping enhances the interaction between ethanol molecules and the sensor surface, improving performance. A mathematical model based on diffusion in porous media was employed to further analyze and optimize sensor performance. The model considers the diffusion of ethanol molecules through the porous SnO2 matrix, considering factors such as surface morphology and doping concentration. Additionally, the choice of electrode material plays a crucial role in extending the sensor's lifespan, highlighting the importance of material selection in sensor design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel CoZnO2 and SnO2 doped CoZnO2 nanocomposites (NCs) were synthesized by the co‐precipitation method successfully and analyzed using UV‐Vis, FT‐IR, XRD and SEM analysis etc. The UV‐Vis studies confirmed the absorption values of CoZnO2 and SnO2 doped CoZnO2 at 359 and 365 nm respectively and the obtained FT‐IR peaks at 569 and 538 cm−1 revealed the presence of metal‐oxygen bonds successfully. The crystalline size was found to be 21.46 and 40.35 nm. In SEM analysis, CoZnO2 showed the densified un‐uniform particles whereas SnO2 doped CoZnO2 NCs seemed to be bunch of particles combined together. The synthesized NCs have proved the photocatalytic property by confirming the degradation efficiency of 72.22 and 82.22 % against methylene blue (MB) under sunlight irradiation as natural source at the time interval of 120 mins. It is revealed by the enhancement in the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol by changing the parameters and the efficiency percentage of 89.46 and 94.52 % at 18 and 16 mins respectively. The adsorption study was carried out by changing different concentrations of targeted pesticide like glyphosate and the percentage (%) efficiency was calculated to be 90.90, 83.53, 78.49 %, and 91.02, 88.23, 80.64 % for CoZnO2 and SnO2 doped CoZnO2 effectively. The high inhibition against DPPH was found to be 42.7 and 53.7 % at 500 μg mL−1 and the maximum zone of inhibition was found to be 22 mm against to 240 μg mL−1 of E. coli. Therefore, the current study proposed that the CoZnO2 and SnO2 doped CoZnO2 have good capability for bio‐chemical catalytic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of catalytic methods for xylose transformation as renewable raw material into value-added chemicals such as lactic and glycolic acid esters has been the subject of intensive research in recent years. Thus, methyl lactate and methyl glycolate are used as a starting material for the production of lactide and glycolide – an important monomers for the production of biodegradable polymers. The aim of this work was to search of simple effective catalyst for transformation of xylose into methyl esters of lactic and glycolic acids. For this purpose, tin-containing alumina doped with СeO2, MoO3 and CuO oxides were synthesized by impregnation method. Textural and structural parameters of obtained МeO‑SnO2/Al2O3 mixed oxides were estimated from the results of low-temperature adsorption-desorption of nitrogen and X-ray diffraction. The formation of morphology ceria close to octahedra for CeО2‑SnO2/Al2O3 sample is confirmed by the X-ray phase analysis data and SEM microphotographs. The UV spectroscopy data indicates the nanosize of tin dioxide particles on the γ‑Al2O3 surface. According to the titration results, CeО2‑SnO2/Al2O3 is acid mixed oxide with H0 ≤ –3.0. The catalytic conversion of xylose solution in methanol was carried out in rotated autoclaves and in a flow stainless steel reactor with a fixed bed of catalyst. The products of the target reaction C5H10O5+2CH3OH+1/2O2 = C4H8O3+C3H6O3+2H2O were analyzed by 13C NMR. It was found that a complete conversion of 4 % xylose solution in a 70 % aqueous methanol solution occurs with the formation of methyl lactate (42 %) and methyl glycolate (24 %) on the developed CeO2-SnO2/Al2O3 catalyst loading of 3.5 mmol C5H10O5/gcat/h at 190 °C/3.0 MPa in air flow. The path of the reaction is proposed, namely: the IVSn4+ ions in           CeO2-SnO2/Al2O3 catalyst as Lewis acid sites promote retro-aldol xylose condensation and further Cannizzaro rearrangement of intermediate methyl pyruval hemiacetal into methyl lactate. And CeO2 provides selective oxidation of glycol aldehyde formed as a result of aldol decondensation of xylose to methyl glycolate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SnO2, with its high theoretical capacity, abundant resources, and environmental friendliness, is widely regarded as a potential anode material for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Nevertheless, the coarsening of the Sn nanoparticles impedes the reconversion back to SnO2, resulting in low coulombic efficiency and rapid capacity decay. In this study, we fabricated a heterostructure by combining SnO2 nanoparticles with MoS2 nanosheets via plasma‐assisted milling. The heterostructure consists of in‐situ exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets predominantly in 1 T phase, which tightly encase the SnO2 nanoparticles through strong bonding. This configuration effectively mitigates the volume change and particle aggregation upon cycling. Moreover, the strong affinity of Mo, which is the lithiation product of MoS2, toward Sn plays a pivotal role in inhibiting the coarsening of Sn nanograins, thus enhancing the reversibility of Sn to SnO2 upon cycling. Consequently, the SnO2/MoS2 heterostructure exhibits superb performance as an anode material for LIBs, demonstrating high capacity, rapid rate capability, and extended lifespan. Specifically, discharged/charged at a rate of 0.2 A g−1 for 300 cycles, it achieves a remarkable reversible capacity of 1173.4 mAh g−1. Even cycled at high rates of 1.0 and 5.0 A g−1 for 800 cycles, it still retains high reversible capacities of 1005.3 and 768.8 mAh g−1, respectively. Moreover, the heterostructure exhibits outstanding electrochemical performance in both full LIBs and sodium‐ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties of the Pb0.931La0.006Sr0.03Ba0.03(Zr0.535Ti0.465)O3–xwt%SnO2 (PLSBZT–xwt%SnO2) with x = 0–0.6 were investigated comprehensively. When the content of SnO2 was 0.55 wt%, the sample achieved optimum properties obtaining a high Curie temperature (259°C) and a large strain (0.203% at 20 kV/cm). In particular, the sample's maximum strain (Smax) remained stable with a variation of less than 4% between −20 and 120°C. Moreover, the PLSBZT–0.55 wt%SnO2 ceramic not only presented a small εr value of 1662, enabling the actuator to respond quickly, but also had a high value of g33 (35.8 × 10−3 V/m/N). These results implied that SnO2‐modified PLSBZT ceramics have significant potential for actuator applications owing to their high Curie temperature, large electric‐field‐induced strain, fast response, and good strain–temperature stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive research on organic solar cells (OSCs) over the past decade has led to efficiency improvements exceeding 18%. Enhancing the efficacy of binary organic solar cells involves multiple factors, including the strategic selection of materials. The choice of donor and acceptor materials, which must exhibit complementary absorption spectra, is crucial. Additionally, optimizing the solar cell structure, such as adjusting the thickness of layers and incorporating hole-transporting layers, can further increase efficiency. In this study, we simulated three different novels within the use of the inorganic SnO2 on the OSCs within this specific arrangement of structures using a drift-diffusion model: direct and inverted binary; direct ternary configurations of OSCs, specifically ITO/PEDOT: PSS/PM6:L8-BO/SnO2/Ag, ITO/SnO2/PM6:L8-BO/PEDOT: PSS/Ag; and FTO/PEDOT: PSS/PM6:D18:L8-BO/SnO2/Ag. These structures achieved power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 18.34%, 18.37%, and 19.52%, respectively. The direct ternary device achieved an important Voc of 0.89 V and an FF of 82.3%, which is high in comparison with other simulated results in the literature. Our research focused on the role of SnO2 as an inorganic electron transport layer in enhancing efficiency in all three configurations. We also evaluated the properties of these structures by simulating external quantum efficiency (EQE), which results in a broadened absorption spectrum from 380 nm to 900 nm for both binary and ternary devices. Furthermore, we measured the spectral distribution of absorbed photons, and photo-charge extraction by linearly increasing voltage (photo-CELIV) to assess charge extraction and generation rates as well as charge mobility. These measurements help establish a robust model for practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uniform film deposition over an entire substrate is indispensable to achieve efficient perovskite solar modules (PSMs) by minimizing the gap with high‐performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Only a few microscopic pinholes on the film in PSMs directly give rise to debase the performance and stimulate the degradation of the devices. Herein, a strategy of the homogeneous and defect‐reduced electron‐transport layer for high‐performance PSMs is reported. pH modulation of tin oxide (SnO2) nanoparticles colloidal dispersion by a small amount of nitric acid (HNO3) addition leads to the removal of hydroxy groups on the SnO2 surface acting as electronic defects as well as superb regularity of the thin films by forming a network of the SnO2 nanoparticles. The surface engineering of SnO2 nanoparticles brings out the high performance of 23.7% efficiency for a unit cell, 20.3% efficiency for a 24.5 cm2 minimodule, and 19.0% efficiency for a 214.7 cm2 submodule, respectively, where all efficiencies are averaged from results obtained by the reverse/forward scan. In outdoor tests with the submodules, a target PSM generates 16.5% higher cumulative electricity for a month as compared to a control PSM. Furthermore, under damp heat environments, the target PSM maintains 80% efficiency compared to an initial efficiency of 1080 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium and its alloys are attractive temporary implants due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. Moreover, Mg has good mechanical and osteoinductive properties. But magnesium and Mg alloys have one significant disadvantage: poor corrosion resistance in a physiological environment. Hence, a deposition of various layers on the surface of Mg alloys seems to be a good idea. The purpose of the article is to analyze the structure and morphology of two MgCa2Zn1 and MgCa2Zn1Gd3 alloys coated by SnO2 ALD (atomic layer deposition) films of various thickness. The studies were performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and an X-ray diffractometer. The corrosion activity of the thin films and substrate alloys in a chloride-rich Ringer's solution at 37 °C was also observed. The corrosion tests that include electrochemical, immersion measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were evaluated. The results indicated that SnO2 had a heterogeneous crystal structure. The surfaces of the thin films were rough with visible pores. The corrosion resistance of SnO2 measured in all corrosion tests was higher for the thicker films. The observations of corrosion products after immersion tests indicated that they were lamellar-shaped and mainly contained Mg, O, Ca, and Cl in a lower concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review details both the conventional and emerging methods of extracting tin from cassiterite. The emerging methods reviewed include sulphuric acid leaching of SnO, cooling crystallization of SnO, sulphide leaching, alkaline leaching, and dry chlorination. From these methods, the conventional approach (direct reduction smelting) stands out as the sole method that is suitable for industrial application, with none of the emerging ones being promising enough to be a contender. The thermodynamics involved in the hydrometallurgical extraction of tin from the mineral are also discussed. Δ G o values calculated at 25 °C for the reduction–dissolution of SnO2 using reducing gases revealed feasibility only when carbon monoxide was used. An indication of the possible species produced during the hydrolysis of the oxide of the metal (SnO2 and SnO) as a function of pH (ranging from −2 to 14 and 0 to 14 for SnO2 and SnO, respectively) was noted and highlighted to link a Pourbaix diagram generated from literature data. This diagram suggests that the solubility of SnO2 in both strongly acidic and alkaline media is possible, but with a small dissolution window in each. The purification and recovery routes of the various processing techniques were then envisaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetone is a biomarker found in the expired air of patients suffering from diabetes. Therefore, early and accurate detection of its concentration in the breath of such patients is extremely important. We prepared Tin(IV) oxide (SnO2) nanospheres via hydrothermal treatment and then decorated them with bimetallic PtAu nanoparticles (NPs) employing the approach of in situ reduction. The topology, elemental composition, as well as crystal structure of the prepared materials were studied via field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The findings revealed that bimetallic PtAu-decorated SnO2 nanospheres (PtAu/SnO2) were effectively synthesized as well as PtAu NPs evenly deposited onto the surface of the SnO2 nanospheres. Pure SnO2 nanospheres and PtAu/SnO2 sensors were prepared, and their acetone gas sensitivity was explored. The findings demonstrated that in comparison to pristine SnO2 nanosphere sensors, the sensors based on PtAu/SnO2 displayed superior sensitivity to acetone of 0.166–100 ppm at 300 °C, providing a low theoretical limit of detection equal to 158 ppm. Moreover, the PtAu/SnO2 sensors showed excellent gas response (Ra/Rg = 492.3 to 100 ppm), along with fast response and recovery (14 s/13 s to 10 ppm), good linearity of correlation, excellent repeatability, long-term stability, and satisfactory selectivity at 300 °C. This improved gas sensitivity was because of the electron sensitization of the Pt NPs, the chemical sensitization of the Au NPs, as well as the synergistic effects of bimetallic PtAu. The PtAu/SnO2 sensors have considerable potential for the early diagnosis and screening of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an alternative electron transport material to the chemically unstable ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), SnO2 NPs exhibit a great potential to construct high‐performance quantum dot light‐emitting diodes (QLEDs). However, only moderate device performance has been obtained for SnO2‐based QLEDs due to the low electron mobility, unfavorable energy band, and massive defects of SnO2 NPs. Herein, a strategy of transition metal doping is reported to achieve high‐quality manganese‐doped SnO2 (Mn‐SnO2) NPs to address the above problems. Specifically, the large bond energy of Mn─O bonds reduces the oxygen vacancy defects, prompting an effective suppression of the interfacial exciton quenching for massive radiative recombination. Moreover, the favorable energy band and high electron mobility for Mn‐SnO2 promote efficient electron injection and transportation. The good optoelectronic properties for Mn‐SnO2 NPs contribute to a great enhancement in device efficiency from 8.2 to 11.4% and a remarkable improvement in lifetime (T95) from 565.3 to 1009.2 h at 1000 cd−2, among the best performing ZnO‐free QLEDs. Notably, the Mn‐SnO2 based QLEDs show a very superior shelf stability to the QLEDs based on SnO2 and ZnO analogs. Consequently, this work reports an effective approach to achieve high‐quality SnO2 NPs for efficient and stable QLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several theoretical studies at different levels of theory have attempted to calculate the absolute position of the SnO2 conduction band, whose knowledge is key for its effective application in optoelectronic devices such us, for example, perovskite solar cells. However, the predicted band edges fall outside the experimentally measured range. In this work, we introduce a computational scheme designed to calculate the conduction band minimum values of SnO2, yielding results aligned with experiments. Our analysis points out the fundamental role of encompassing surface oxygen vacancies to properly describe the electronic profile of this material. We explore the impact of both bridge and in‐plane oxygen vacancy defects on the structural and electronic properties of SnO2, explaining from an atomistic perspective the experimental observables. The results underscore the importance of simulating both types of defects to accurately predict SnO2 features and provide new fundamental insights that can guide future studies concerning design and optimization of SnO2‐based materials and functional interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel and efficient method is employed to fabricate tin dioxide films through the thermal decomposition of Sn(OH)4 in a glove box environment. Initially, SnCl2 was dissolved in ethanol at various concentrations and then annealed in glove box, very little Sn(OH)4 was obtained due to the easy decomposition of ethanol at room temperature, and none of the SnO2 was observed. The formation of SnO2 appeared on the films after SnCl2 in ethanol treatment and annealed in air, but this process leads to the decomposition of perovskite. Therefore, a new method need to be proposed so as to prepare SnO2 in glove box. To address this issue, SnCl2 was then dissolved in isopropanol and annealed inside the glove box. The SnO2 films processed with isopropanol as a solvent exhibited better crystallinity, higher purity, improved conductivity, and fewer defects. Furthermore, devices fabricated using SnO2 films prepared with isopropanol also show good efficiency and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commercial tin oxide (SnO2) colloidal suspension is widely utilized as an electron transport layer (ETL) in high‐performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, despite significant efforts have been proposed to address bulk transport and interface recombination issues, the PSC efficiency is still limited to around 25%. In this study, the crucial role of the physicochemical characteristics of the SnO2 colloidal suspension in shaping the morphology, electrical properties, and optical properties of the SnO2 ETL is investigated. By controlling the pH value of the SnO2 solution with weak acids such as carbonic acid, the reassembly of metal oxide nanoparticles into smaller sizes with more homogeneous dispersion and dense interconnections is successfully induced. Consequently, the resulting SnO2 ETL exhibits enhanced crystallinity, high conductivity, low surface defects, and high optical transmittance. As a result, the efficiency of the target PSC is increased from 23.10% (control device) to 24.70%. This improvement is attributed to higher voltage, photocurrent, and fill factor compared to the relevant control samples. A similar device improvement using phosphoric acid is observed, indicating that the approach represents a universal technique to further enhance the quality of SnO2 ETL for large‐area, high‐efficiency, and stable PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For low temperature (≤180 °C) processed perovskite solar cells (PSCs), SnO2 has been proven to be one of the most effective electron transporting layer. However, problems, such as poor electric conductivity and high defect density, inevitably exist in the SnO2 films which are fabricated using low temperature solution methods. Element doping of SnO2 film is a feasible strategy to alleviate the above problems. Herein, W doping of the SnO2 is realized through addition of ammonium tungstate hydrate into the molecular precursor of SnO2. The W doped SnO2 film exhibits higher conductivity, and can better extract and transport the electrons from the perovskite films. Hence, power conversion efficiency is boosted from 20.60 % for the reference PSCs to 21.83 % for PSCs fabricated on 2.5 mg mL−1 ammonium tungstate hydrate doped SnO2 films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin oxide (SnO2) has been demonstrated as a promising electron transport material for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to its low‐temperature process and high charge extraction ability. However, the key to improving the internal performance of PSCs toward unity lies in the ability of enhancing bulk SnO2 quality and reducing the energy level mismatch between SnO2 and perovskite layer. Herein, a facile and effective strategy to simultaneously functionalize SnO2 structure by sodium alginate (SA) polysaccharide compound is reported. The investigations reveal that SA leads to the formation of nanosynapse structure of SnO2 films, which allows the aligned energy levels and suppressed charge recombination, significantly enhancing carrier extraction and transport. Consequently, CsMAFAPb(IxBr1−x)3 and CsPbI2Br solar cells achieve a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 24.11% and 16.90%, respectively, based on SnO2‐SA electron transport layers (ETLs). This work offers a facile and effective way to fabricate high‐performance SnO2 ETL in PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly sensitive to methane semiconductor sensors were obtained with the use of nanosized tin dioxide synthesized via sol-gel method. Sensitization of the sensors was achieved by introduction of Pt additives into semiconductor gas sensitive materials. Experimental data of dependences of conductivities of the created sensors on methane concentrations were used for approximation by a mathematical model of the sensor conductivity and response formation. The model is based on features of a methane oxidation reaction on the surface of the gas sensitive material and allows to connect conductivity of the sensor with surface processes occurred on its gas sensitive layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanosized initial semiconductor tin dioxide based material was synthesized by a sol-gel technique and characterized by XRD, IR-spectroscopy, DTA-DTG and TEM methods. Nanosized SnO2-based sensor materials were prepared using the pastes with different quantities of tin dioxide and carboxymethyl cellulose and formatted at various temperatures. It was found that the compositions of the pastes significantly affect the characteristics of the sensors obtained on their base. The characteristics of the sensors of different compositions were explained by necessity of the presence of sufficient number of contacts between the nanoparticles of the sensor material, which ensure the electrical conductivities of the sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, femtosecond (FS) laser irradiation with different laser energy densities of 138, 276, and 414 mJ/cm2 is applied to SnO2-nanowire (NW) gas sensors, and the effect of the FS laser irradiation on the gas sensor response toward toluene (C7H8) gas is investigated. The FS laser irradiation causes oxygen deficiency in the SnO2 NWs and forms SnO and SnOx. Moreover, an embossing surface with multiple nano-sized bumps is created on the SnO2 NW surface because of the FS laser irradiation. The FS laser-irradiated SnO2-NW gas sensor exhibits superior sensing performance compared with the pristine SnO2-NW gas sensor. Moreover, the FS laser energy density significantly affects gas-sensing performance, and the highest sensor response is achieved by the gas sensor irradiated at 138 mJ/cm2. The long-term stability test of the laser-irradiated SnO2-NW gas sensor is performed by comparing fresh and 6-month-old gas sensors in different gas concentrations and relative humidity levels. Comparable gas-sensing behaviors are examined between the fresh and 6-month-old gas sensor, and this verifies the robustness of the laser-irradiated SnO2-NW gas sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gd/Fe-SnO2 nanopowders as novel photocatalysts for the active removal of Rose Bengal dye and methyl parathion pesticide were synthesized with a low-cost coprecipitation route. The X-ray diffraction analysis of SnO2, Sn0.96Gd0.02Fe0.02O2 and Sn0.94Gd0.02Fe0.04O2 nanopowders proved the formation of a tetragonal phase of tin oxide with average crystallite sizes in the range of 13–18 nm. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of all samples displayed the characteristic absorption bands of SnO2. The nanopowder of the pure SnO2 sample, as seen in its transmission electron microscope (TEM) image, contains spherical-like particles of variable sizes. The TEM images of the Sn0.96Gd0.02Fe0.02O2 and Sn0.94Gd0.02Fe0.04O2 powders revealed the synthesis of fine spherical nanoparticles. Based on the TEM images, the average particle size of the pure, (Gd, 2 wt% Fe) and (Gd, 4 wt% Fe) codoped SnO2 nanopowders was estimated to be 14, 10 and 12 nm, respectively. After the addition of (Gd, 2 wt% Fe) and (Gd, 4 wt% Fe) to the SnO2 structure, the band gap energy of SnO2 was reduced from 3.4 eV to 2.88 and 2.82 eV, respectively. Significantly, the Sn0.96Gd0.02Fe0.02O2 nanocatalyst exhibited a high removal efficiency of 98 and 96% for Rose Bengal dye and methyl parathion pesticide after activation by sunlight for 35 and 48 min, respectively. Furthermore, this catalyst has shown perfect mineralization as well as high stability properties for the treatment of Rose Bengal dye and methyl parathion pesticide. These results suggest the suitability of the Sn0.96Gd0.02Fe0.02O2 nanocatalyst for the treatment of agriculture and industrial effluent under sunlight light energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we prepared the SnO2/ZnFe2O4 (SZ) composite magnetic photocatalyst via a two-step hydrothermal method. Structural and performance analyses revealed that SZ-5 with a ZnFe2O4 mass ratio of 5% (SZ-5) exhibited optimal photocatalytic activity, achieving a 72.6% degradation rate of Rhodamine B (RhB) solution within 120 min. SZ-5 consisted of irregular nano blocks of SnO2 combined with spherical nanoparticles of ZnFe2O4, with a saturated magnetization intensity of 1.27 emu/g. Moreover, the specific surface area of SnO2 loaded with ZnFe2O4 increased, resulting in a decreased forbidden bandwidth and expanded light absorption range. The construction of a Z-type heterojunction structure between SnO2 and ZnFe2O4 facilitated the migration of photogenerated charges, reduced the recombination rate of electron-hole pairs, and enhanced electrical conductivity. During the photocatalytic reaction, RhB was degraded by·OH, O2−, and h+, in which O2− played a major role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]