Effect of Sn doping on electrical and antibacterial performance of Zn_0.96-xMn_0.04O nanoparticles by bio-synthesis method

Zn_0.96-xMn_0.04Sn_xO (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04) were synthesized using Phyllanthus Niruri leaf extract mediated co-precipitation method. The x-ray diffraction pattern demonstrates that doping of Mn and Sn did not show any variations in the ZnO hexagonal wurtzite structure. The reduced crystallite size by Sn doping is because of lattice distortion that altogether prevented the growth. The variations in lattice parameters, average crystallite size, peak position and peak intensity from XRD in addition to EDX, FTIR and optical studies supports the substitution of Sn²⁺ into Zn-Mn-O lattice. The presence of chemical bonding was studied by FTIR spectroscopy. The optical absorption and band gap alterations with respect to Sn doping were investigated by UV-Visible spectroscopy. The widening of band gap by Sn doping is attributable to both size and compositional effects. The dielectric properties, conductivity and antibacterial properties are boosted up with the addition of the Co-dopant Sn to 4%. (paper)