Preparation and characterization of tin oxide, SnO2 nanoparticles decorated graphene

SnO2 nanoparticles/graphene (SnO2/GP) nanocomposite was synthesized by a facile microwave method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the nanocomposite corresponded to the diffraction peak typical of graphene and the rutile phase of SnO2 with tetragonal structure. The field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images revealed that the graphene sheets were dotted with SnO2 nanoparticles with an average size of 10 nm. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis indicated that the development of SnO2/GP resulted from the removal of the oxygenous groups on graphene oxide (GO) by Sn2+ ions. The nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) showed excellent enhancement of electrochemical performance when interacting with mercury(II) ions in potassium chloride supporting electrolyte. The current was increased by more than tenfold, suggesting its potential to be used as a mercury(II) sensor.