Sun light-assisted enhanced photocatalytic activity and cytotoxicity of green synthesized SnO2 nanoparticles

Abstract

In this work, SnO2 NPs were green synthesized using Canna indica (C. indica) plant leaves extract and the synthesized powder sample was calcined at different temperatures from 400 to 700 °C. The synthesized sample was characterized using XRD, UV–vis, and FTIR spectra. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity using Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible light illumination of SnO2 nanostructures calcined at different temperatures was tested. RhB was decomposed greater than 97% by all the samples under sunlight irradiation within 30 min while a maximum decomposition of 46% was achieved when exposed to UV lamp irradiation under similar experimental conditions and the reaction was satisfactorily described by pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics. Also, its cytotoxic assessment for Artemia salina (A. salina) was performed.The sample calcined at 600 °C exhibits greater toxicity for A. salina with a survival rate of 45 and 33% for 12 and 24 h exposure to visible light. So, the synthesized SnO2 NPs are promising for the photodegradation of dyes and inhibiting the growth of A. salina animals in saline waters.