Preserved crystal phase and morphology: Improving the magnetic and electrochemical performance of sulfur doped tin oxide nanoparticles synthesized via the hydrothermal method

Herein, we report synthesis of bare and Sulfur (S) doped SnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) using simple and low cost hydrothermal method. S with different concentration (0, 2, 4 and 6) were doped in SnO2 and named as bare SnO2, 2%S:SnO2, 4%S:SnO2 and 6%S:SnO2, respectively. The synthesized NPs were characterized for structural, functional, optical, morphological, electrochemical and magnetic properties. XRD confirms the tetragonal structure of bare SnO2 2%S:SnO2, 4%S:SnO2 and 6%S:SnO2 NPs. The crystallite size and microstrain was calculated using the Scherrer equation, W-H plot, SSP plot, and H-W plot and are in well agreement with each other. The FTIR confirmed formation of S-O and Sn-O bonding. The direct energy band gap values of bare SnO2, 2%S:SnO2, 4%S:SnO2 and 6%S:SnO2 are 3.8 eV, 3.6 eV, 3.1 eV and 2.2 eV, respectively. The electrochemical performance (ECP) of bare SnO2 and 2%S:SnO2 NPs were studied by making their electrodes through CV, GCDs, and EIS measurements. The bare SnO2 and 2%S:SnO2 electrodes show the specific capacitance of 125 F/g and 225 F/g at a current density of 3 A/g proves S doping enhances the capacitive performance of SnO2 NPs. The VSM shows paramagnetic behavior changes into ferromagnetic behavior with S doping.