Biosynthesis of highly porous Ag/Bi/SnO2 nanohybrid material using seeds extract of Caesalpinia bonduc and their photocatalytic activity.

In the current study, Tin oxide (SnO 2), Silver–Tin oxide (Ag–SnO 2), and Ag–Bi–SnO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully synthesized using methanolic seed extracts of Caesalpinia bonduc (C.bonduc) plants. The NPS were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Surface area analysis (SAA), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, and Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR). The synthesized photocatalyst's surface area was 210, 235, and 238 m2/g for SnO 2 and Ag–SnO 2 , and Ag–Bi–SnO 2 , respectively. The catalyst showed excellent activity for the degradation of MB dye in an aqueous medium. The results confirmed that the Ag–Bi–SnO 2 exhibited 94% degradation of dye compared to Ag–SnO 2 (90%) and SnO 2 (80%) under the same reaction conditions. Adding Ag and bismuth can also increase the degradation mechanism by preventing recombining electron-hole pairs. The report is novel, as no report to date has been published for the synthesis of Ag–Bi–SnO 2 , Ag–SnO2, and SnO2 NPs synthesized by C. bonduc seed extract; the procedure is simple, cheaper, and non-toxic compared to other methods employed for the synthesis of NPs. Eley-Rideal (ER) type of reaction mechanism was found to follow the degradation of MB dye in an aqueous medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]