Synthesis of thermally stable monodispersed Au@SnO2 core-shell structure nanoparticles by a sonochemical technique for detection and degradation of acetaldehyde

A simple ultrasound assisted chemical precipitation technique for the synthesis of Au@SnO2 core-shell structure nanoparticles is reported. Au nanoparticles were synthesized via chemical reduction of metal salt followed by sonochemical deposition of a tin dioxide shell with controlled shell thickness. The phase and morphology have been investigated by an X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) respectively. Au@SnO2 core-shell nanocomposites have shown a distinct surface plasmon peak in the UV-visible spectrum at 540 nm. The core-shell morphology is confirmed from the TEM images. XRD patterns have suggested the formation of gold and tin dioxide in the face-centered cubic and Cassiterite form respectively. Our investigations suggested that the formation of a core-shell structure results in the enhanced thermal stability of the system. The synthesized material is used for the detection and oxidation of acetaldehyde gas. Our investigations suggest the potential application of sonochemically synthesized Au@SnO2 nanoparticles for realization of a sense and shoot device for indoor air purification. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.