Bi-Fe-Co multi-doping engineered SnO2 nanoparticles: A dual-function material for spintronic applications and high-efficiency solar photocatalytic degradation

Salwa Alqarni; Imen Massoudi; Amal L. Al-Otaibi; Ayman M. Mostafa; Tahani M. Alqahtani; Norah Abdullah Algarou; Reem Khalid Aldakheel; Ahmed Rebey

doi:10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.04.352

Bi-Fe-Co multi-doping engineered SnO₂ nanoparticles: A dual-function material for spintronic applications and high-efficiency solar photocatalytic degradation

Salwa Alqarni
, Imen Massoudi^*
, Amal L. Al-Otaibi
, Ayman M. Mostafa
, Tahani M. Alqahtani
, Norah Abdullah Algarou
, Reem Khalid Aldakheel
, Ahmed Rebey

^*Corresponding author for this work

Physics Department

Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
Qassim University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

In this study, novel Sn_0.94Fe_0.03Bi_0.03O₂ and Sn_0.94Fe_0.02Bi_0.02Co_0.02O₂ nanopowders have been synthesized for environmental pollution treatment and potential spintronics-chips. The SnO₂, Sn_0.94Fe_0.03Bi_0.03O_2, and Sn_0.94Fe_0.02Bi_0.02Co_0.02O₂ nanopowders were achieved using a simple co-precipitation method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns exhibited definite peaks indexed to a single SnO₂ structure with a tetragonal lattice. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) images illustrated that the powders of SnO₂, Sn_0.94Fe_0.03Bi_0.03O_2, and Sn_0.94Fe_0.02Bi_0.02Co_0.02O₂ consist of fine nanoparticles having a quasi-spherical shape. The EDX-mapping spectra of the (Fe, Bi, Co) modified SnO₂ sample showed the homogeneous distribution of ions and verified the effective synthesis process. The analysis of XPS signals confirmed that Bi, Fe, and Co ions have +3, +3, and +2/+3 as oxidation states and additionally verified the presence of oxygen vacancies. The magnetization-magnetic field (M − H) curves demonstrated that the synthesized powders have ferromagnetic hysteresis loops with a similar shape. The magnetization of 0.303 emu/g was identified for the (Fe, Bi) modified SnO₂ sample, while the (Fe, Bi, Co) modified SnO₂ sample showed a magnetization of 0.472 emu/g at a magnetic field of 20 kOe. The photocatalytic performance of (Fe, Bi) modified SnO₂ nanopowder effectively degrades 10 ppm methylene blue and 15 ppm Congo red dyes when exposed to direct sunlight for 60 min. After 100 min, the mineralization efficiency of this catalyst reached 93% for methylene blue and 96% for Congo red. This high conversion rate of both dyes is a crucial factor for practical applications. The (Fe, Bi) ions modify the band gap energy, enhance the separation and transformation of charge carriers, and decrease the size of SnO₂ particles, resulting in improved photocatalytic performance.

Original language	English
Journal	Ceramics International
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.04.352
State	Accepted/In press - 2026

Keywords

Multi-doping
Novel multifunctional semiconductors
Room temperature ferromagnetic
SnO
Treatment of wastewater

Access to Document

10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.04.352

Cite this

Alqarni, S., Massoudi, I., Al-Otaibi, A. L., Mostafa, A. M., Alqahtani, T. M., Algarou, N. A., Aldakheel, R. K., & Rebey, A. (Accepted/In press). Bi-Fe-Co multi-doping engineered SnO₂ nanoparticles: A dual-function material for spintronic applications and high-efficiency solar photocatalytic degradation. Ceramics International. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.04.352

@article{ec349f5639e74792b4a61724d291d053,

title = "Bi-Fe-Co multi-doping engineered SnO2 nanoparticles: A dual-function material for spintronic applications and high-efficiency solar photocatalytic degradation",

abstract = "In this study, novel Sn0.94Fe0.03Bi0.03O2 and Sn0.94Fe0.02Bi0.02Co0.02O2 nanopowders have been synthesized for environmental pollution treatment and potential spintronics-chips. The SnO2, Sn0.94Fe0.03Bi0.03O2, and Sn0.94Fe0.02Bi0.02Co0.02O2 nanopowders were achieved using a simple co-precipitation method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns exhibited definite peaks indexed to a single SnO2 structure with a tetragonal lattice. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) images illustrated that the powders of SnO2, Sn0.94Fe0.03Bi0.03O2, and Sn0.94Fe0.02Bi0.02Co0.02O2 consist of fine nanoparticles having a quasi-spherical shape. The EDX-mapping spectra of the (Fe, Bi, Co) modified SnO2 sample showed the homogeneous distribution of ions and verified the effective synthesis process. The analysis of XPS signals confirmed that Bi, Fe, and Co ions have +3, +3, and +2/+3 as oxidation states and additionally verified the presence of oxygen vacancies. The magnetization-magnetic field (M − H) curves demonstrated that the synthesized powders have ferromagnetic hysteresis loops with a similar shape. The magnetization of 0.303 emu/g was identified for the (Fe, Bi) modified SnO2 sample, while the (Fe, Bi, Co) modified SnO2 sample showed a magnetization of 0.472 emu/g at a magnetic field of 20 kOe. The photocatalytic performance of (Fe, Bi) modified SnO2 nanopowder effectively degrades 10 ppm methylene blue and 15 ppm Congo red dyes when exposed to direct sunlight for 60 min. After 100 min, the mineralization efficiency of this catalyst reached 93\% for methylene blue and 96\% for Congo red. This high conversion rate of both dyes is a crucial factor for practical applications. The (Fe, Bi) ions modify the band gap energy, enhance the separation and transformation of charge carriers, and decrease the size of SnO2 particles, resulting in improved photocatalytic performance.",

keywords = "Multi-doping, Novel multifunctional semiconductors, Room temperature ferromagnetic, SnO, Treatment of wastewater",

author = "Salwa Alqarni and Imen Massoudi and Al-Otaibi, \{Amal L.\} and Mostafa, \{Ayman M.\} and Alqahtani, \{Tahani M.\} and Algarou, \{Norah Abdullah\} and Aldakheel, \{Reem Khalid\} and Ahmed Rebey",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.04.352",

language = "English",

journal = "Ceramics International",

issn = "0272-8842",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Bi-Fe-Co multi-doping engineered SnO2 nanoparticles

T2 - A dual-function material for spintronic applications and high-efficiency solar photocatalytic degradation

AU - Alqarni, Salwa

AU - Massoudi, Imen

AU - Al-Otaibi, Amal L.

AU - Mostafa, Ayman M.

AU - Alqahtani, Tahani M.

AU - Algarou, Norah Abdullah

AU - Aldakheel, Reem Khalid

AU - Rebey, Ahmed

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - In this study, novel Sn0.94Fe0.03Bi0.03O2 and Sn0.94Fe0.02Bi0.02Co0.02O2 nanopowders have been synthesized for environmental pollution treatment and potential spintronics-chips. The SnO2, Sn0.94Fe0.03Bi0.03O2, and Sn0.94Fe0.02Bi0.02Co0.02O2 nanopowders were achieved using a simple co-precipitation method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns exhibited definite peaks indexed to a single SnO2 structure with a tetragonal lattice. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) images illustrated that the powders of SnO2, Sn0.94Fe0.03Bi0.03O2, and Sn0.94Fe0.02Bi0.02Co0.02O2 consist of fine nanoparticles having a quasi-spherical shape. The EDX-mapping spectra of the (Fe, Bi, Co) modified SnO2 sample showed the homogeneous distribution of ions and verified the effective synthesis process. The analysis of XPS signals confirmed that Bi, Fe, and Co ions have +3, +3, and +2/+3 as oxidation states and additionally verified the presence of oxygen vacancies. The magnetization-magnetic field (M − H) curves demonstrated that the synthesized powders have ferromagnetic hysteresis loops with a similar shape. The magnetization of 0.303 emu/g was identified for the (Fe, Bi) modified SnO2 sample, while the (Fe, Bi, Co) modified SnO2 sample showed a magnetization of 0.472 emu/g at a magnetic field of 20 kOe. The photocatalytic performance of (Fe, Bi) modified SnO2 nanopowder effectively degrades 10 ppm methylene blue and 15 ppm Congo red dyes when exposed to direct sunlight for 60 min. After 100 min, the mineralization efficiency of this catalyst reached 93% for methylene blue and 96% for Congo red. This high conversion rate of both dyes is a crucial factor for practical applications. The (Fe, Bi) ions modify the band gap energy, enhance the separation and transformation of charge carriers, and decrease the size of SnO2 particles, resulting in improved photocatalytic performance.

AB - In this study, novel Sn0.94Fe0.03Bi0.03O2 and Sn0.94Fe0.02Bi0.02Co0.02O2 nanopowders have been synthesized for environmental pollution treatment and potential spintronics-chips. The SnO2, Sn0.94Fe0.03Bi0.03O2, and Sn0.94Fe0.02Bi0.02Co0.02O2 nanopowders were achieved using a simple co-precipitation method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns exhibited definite peaks indexed to a single SnO2 structure with a tetragonal lattice. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) images illustrated that the powders of SnO2, Sn0.94Fe0.03Bi0.03O2, and Sn0.94Fe0.02Bi0.02Co0.02O2 consist of fine nanoparticles having a quasi-spherical shape. The EDX-mapping spectra of the (Fe, Bi, Co) modified SnO2 sample showed the homogeneous distribution of ions and verified the effective synthesis process. The analysis of XPS signals confirmed that Bi, Fe, and Co ions have +3, +3, and +2/+3 as oxidation states and additionally verified the presence of oxygen vacancies. The magnetization-magnetic field (M − H) curves demonstrated that the synthesized powders have ferromagnetic hysteresis loops with a similar shape. The magnetization of 0.303 emu/g was identified for the (Fe, Bi) modified SnO2 sample, while the (Fe, Bi, Co) modified SnO2 sample showed a magnetization of 0.472 emu/g at a magnetic field of 20 kOe. The photocatalytic performance of (Fe, Bi) modified SnO2 nanopowder effectively degrades 10 ppm methylene blue and 15 ppm Congo red dyes when exposed to direct sunlight for 60 min. After 100 min, the mineralization efficiency of this catalyst reached 93% for methylene blue and 96% for Congo red. This high conversion rate of both dyes is a crucial factor for practical applications. The (Fe, Bi) ions modify the band gap energy, enhance the separation and transformation of charge carriers, and decrease the size of SnO2 particles, resulting in improved photocatalytic performance.

KW - Multi-doping

KW - Novel multifunctional semiconductors

KW - Room temperature ferromagnetic

KW - SnO

KW - Treatment of wastewater

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105038675730

U2 - 10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.04.352

DO - 10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.04.352

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105038675730

SN - 0272-8842

JO - Ceramics International

JF - Ceramics International

ER -

Bi-Fe-Co multi-doping engineered SnO₂ nanoparticles: A dual-function material for spintronic applications and high-efficiency solar photocatalytic degradation

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this