Harnessing Dual-Functionality of N, F-Codoped SnO₂ Material for Efficient Hydrogen Generation and Dye Degradation

The need for pollution-free energy generation and water treatment is urgent, but more significantly, affordable energy supplies are currently the focus of study. Hydrogen is one of the energy sources that is thought to be pure and clean. This work uses N, F-codoped SnO₂ nanoparticles for photocatalytic hydrogen production and dye degradation. At room temperature, a straightforward synthetic method based on solutions has been used to easily incorporate N and F into the SnO₂ lattice. Utilizing various scavengers, the photocatalytic water splitting process was carried out. A combination of sacrificial agents was used to get the highest possible hydrogen output. Numerous methods were employed to characterize the generated nanoparticles. Using powder X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy, the phase identity and surface characteristics of the N, F-codoped SnO₂ nanoparticles were verified, whereas the elemental percentage composition was confirmed through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A wide bandwidth is seen in the Raman spectra, which suggests the presence of oxygen vacancies and structural disorder brought about by the addition of N and F dopants. In light of this, this work investigates the possibility of N, F-codoped SnO₂ as a photocatalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen generation and creates new avenues for the production of energy and environmental concerns.