A novel study on photo dependent current voltage characteristics of SnO₂ nanoparticles

Tin Oxide is a versatile material. It has multifold application due to its attractive features such as band gap, crystal structurer, presence of multiple oxidation states. In this work, the combination of hydrothermal and solvothermal methods were employed to synthesize the SnO2 nanoparticles. Pure ethanol, methanol and double distilled water are used as a solvent. Concentration of Tin precursor, reaction time, reaction temperature and pH of the solution kept constant. X ray diffraction confirms the formation of tetragonal symmetry. Williamson-Hall, size-strain, Halder-Wagner, Wagner-Aqua methods were employed to study the structural features such as crystallite size, microstrain, deformation energy density etc. Peak value of crystallite size was obtained for the methanol medium. Crystallite size obtained by using various methods shows similar trend with solvent used for the synthesis. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) was used to determine the pore size and surface area. Spectral dependence of Current voltage characteristics was studied. Current shows rise upon illumination with different spectral range light. I-V shows spectral dependence for AM 1.5 spectra, various spectral ranges in Visible and IR region. Ideality factor and schottkey barrier height was obtained. Ideality factor and schottkey barrier height shows dependence on spectral range used for illumination. Transmission electron microscopy was used to probe structural features. Lattice parameter, particle size and crystal planes were determine using TEM imagery. This work will be path finder in development of future photodetection device.