Microwave irradiation time-dependent tuning of the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activity of SnO2 quantum dots for tetracycline photodegradation
The effectiveness of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), particularly SnO2 QDs, in photocatalysis is dependent on synthesis parameters. Microwave irradiation time significantly influences nucleation, crystallinity, defect concentration, and pore structure, which directly affect photocatalytic efficien...
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Results in Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302501792X |
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| author | Seow Ching Phoon Anwar Iqbal Junichi Ida Dede Heri Yuli Yanto Muhammad Rahimi Yusop M. Hazwan Hussin Kalaivizhi Rajappan |
| author_facet | Seow Ching Phoon Anwar Iqbal Junichi Ida Dede Heri Yuli Yanto Muhammad Rahimi Yusop M. Hazwan Hussin Kalaivizhi Rajappan |
| author_sort | Seow Ching Phoon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The effectiveness of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), particularly SnO2 QDs, in photocatalysis is dependent on synthesis parameters. Microwave irradiation time significantly influences nucleation, crystallinity, defect concentration, and pore structure, which directly affect photocatalytic efficiency. Despite its critical role, the impact of microwave irradiation time is often treated as a constant parameter. This study systematically investigates the impact of microwave irradiation time (3, 5, and 7 min at 600 W) on the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activity of SnO2 QDs for tetracycline (TC) photodegradation. TC is a persistent antibiotic frequently detected in wastewater and poorly removed by conventional treatment due to its high solubility and chemical stability. SnO₂ QDs synthesized at 3 min (SnO2 QDs-3 min) exhibited the smallest particle size (2.1 nm), narrowest band gap (3.44 eV), and a micro-mesoporous structure (DFT pore size 2.30–10.5 nm) formed through QD aggregation during drying. Despite its relatively low BET surface area (111.62 m²/g), this sample showed superior TC removal, attributed to enhanced light absorption, efficient charge separation, and increased surface reactivity due to low crystallinity. PL and EIS analyses confirmed the lowest electron-hole recombination rate and highest conductivity for SnO2 QDs-3 min. Under optimal conditions (100 mg catalyst, 10 mg/L TC, pH 8.5, 90 min under fluorescent light), complete TC removal was achieved. Scavenging test identified electrons (e−), holes (h+) and hydroxyl radicals (HO•) as the primary species. However, reusability tests revealed reduced performance (35 % removal), likely due to Na+/Cl− leaching and pore structure alteration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-531eb50bcbbb45fcb705bd82c2d84df7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-1230 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Results in Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-531eb50bcbbb45fcb705bd82c2d84df72025-08-20T03:27:02ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-09-012710572110.1016/j.rineng.2025.105721Microwave irradiation time-dependent tuning of the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activity of SnO2 quantum dots for tetracycline photodegradationSeow Ching Phoon0Anwar Iqbal1Junichi Ida2Dede Heri Yuli Yanto3Muhammad Rahimi Yusop4M. Hazwan Hussin5Kalaivizhi Rajappan6School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Penang, MalaysiaSchool of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Penang, Malaysia; Corresponding authors.Faculty of Science and Engineering, Soka University, 1-236 Tangi-machi, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-8577, JapanResearch Center for Applied Microbiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, 16911, Bogor, Indonesia; Corresponding authors.Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Selangor, MalaysiaSchool of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Penang, MalaysiaDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM Nagar Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, 603203, IndiaThe effectiveness of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), particularly SnO2 QDs, in photocatalysis is dependent on synthesis parameters. Microwave irradiation time significantly influences nucleation, crystallinity, defect concentration, and pore structure, which directly affect photocatalytic efficiency. Despite its critical role, the impact of microwave irradiation time is often treated as a constant parameter. This study systematically investigates the impact of microwave irradiation time (3, 5, and 7 min at 600 W) on the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activity of SnO2 QDs for tetracycline (TC) photodegradation. TC is a persistent antibiotic frequently detected in wastewater and poorly removed by conventional treatment due to its high solubility and chemical stability. SnO₂ QDs synthesized at 3 min (SnO2 QDs-3 min) exhibited the smallest particle size (2.1 nm), narrowest band gap (3.44 eV), and a micro-mesoporous structure (DFT pore size 2.30–10.5 nm) formed through QD aggregation during drying. Despite its relatively low BET surface area (111.62 m²/g), this sample showed superior TC removal, attributed to enhanced light absorption, efficient charge separation, and increased surface reactivity due to low crystallinity. PL and EIS analyses confirmed the lowest electron-hole recombination rate and highest conductivity for SnO2 QDs-3 min. Under optimal conditions (100 mg catalyst, 10 mg/L TC, pH 8.5, 90 min under fluorescent light), complete TC removal was achieved. Scavenging test identified electrons (e−), holes (h+) and hydroxyl radicals (HO•) as the primary species. However, reusability tests revealed reduced performance (35 % removal), likely due to Na+/Cl− leaching and pore structure alteration.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302501792XSnO2 quantum dotsTetracyclineMicrowave irradiationFluorescent lightPhotocatalysis |
| spellingShingle | Seow Ching Phoon Anwar Iqbal Junichi Ida Dede Heri Yuli Yanto Muhammad Rahimi Yusop M. Hazwan Hussin Kalaivizhi Rajappan Microwave irradiation time-dependent tuning of the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activity of SnO2 quantum dots for tetracycline photodegradation Results in Engineering SnO2 quantum dots Tetracycline Microwave irradiation Fluorescent light Photocatalysis |
| title | Microwave irradiation time-dependent tuning of the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activity of SnO2 quantum dots for tetracycline photodegradation |
| title_full | Microwave irradiation time-dependent tuning of the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activity of SnO2 quantum dots for tetracycline photodegradation |
| title_fullStr | Microwave irradiation time-dependent tuning of the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activity of SnO2 quantum dots for tetracycline photodegradation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microwave irradiation time-dependent tuning of the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activity of SnO2 quantum dots for tetracycline photodegradation |
| title_short | Microwave irradiation time-dependent tuning of the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activity of SnO2 quantum dots for tetracycline photodegradation |
| title_sort | microwave irradiation time dependent tuning of the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activity of sno2 quantum dots for tetracycline photodegradation |
| topic | SnO2 quantum dots Tetracycline Microwave irradiation Fluorescent light Photocatalysis |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302501792X |
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