I have prepared SnO2 nanoparticles single and double dopants. My research guide asked me to study the cationic distribution of it. I have seen the study of cationic distribution only in ferrites and not in SnO2 nanoparticles. So I need the suggestions of experts to study the cationic distribution. What is the software needed? Thank you
One thing you can do is Rietveld refinement of the powder XRD pattern. It will give you the entire crystal structure. So, both cation and anionic positions, occupancy, stoichiometry etc can be known from it. A good software for Rietveld refinement is Fullprof.
Lakshmi SANYASA Chatti,
There are a few answers that satisfy your question. Firstly, Artur Braun mentioned that your research guide (advisor?) needs to guide you in the correct direction, whether that be characterization tools, research papers, etc.
Secondly, Souvik Bhattacharjee mentioned that you can do a Rietveld analysis with XRD patterns. This is fairly difficult to get a straight answer as the counting statistics represent an average over the whole sample (assuming you are using a powder). You could also use a capillary to do Rietveld to lessen the amount of sample and to reduce counting stats. Also PDF (pair distribution function) analysis can give some idea of the bond distance distribution. Either way, both techniques require a correct structural model where you most likely have to refine many parameters that are difficult to determine if they are correct. Therefore, more information is needed than just XRD and Rietveld.
The elemental distribution can be determined via EDS mapping to an extent in SEM or more preferably TEM. EDS has an inherent issue with sensitivity and spatial resolution, therefore EELS in the TEM is much more preferred for elemental distribution of nanoparticles.
Another way to determine the bonding is to use light spectroscopy, specifically FTIR or Raman. Raman has already been performed on Fe-doped SnO2 here: Article Structural and Optical Properties of Nanostructured Fe-Doped SnO 2
. There are multiple other papers on this topic as well. Also, magnetic measurements may be of interest.Good luck!
Hello Lakshmi,
many thanky for sharing this interesting technical question with the RG community. As an inorganic chemist I'm not an expert in this field enough to give you a really qualified answer. I think that the answer provided by Alec Ladonis is already pretty comprehensive. As you said, the cation distribution has been more often studied in ferrites. In this context please have a look at the following potentially useful article which is freely availabe as public full text on RG:
Magnetic Properties and Cation Distribution of Bimetallic (Mn–Co) Doped NiFe2O4 Nanoparticles
Article Magnetic Properties and Cation Distribution of Bimetallic (M...
In your case it depends on the metals which you used for doping of your tin dioxide. The will formally be the cations in your material. Tin dioxide itself is not really an ionic compound.
Besides, I agree with Artur Braun in that your supervisor should guide you when it comes to working on a new issue. 😎
Good luck with your work!
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