Theoretical studies of carbenes and carbenoids: 2. Structures and isomerizations of carbenoid H2CCLiF

The vinylidene carbenoid H₂C?CLiF is studied with RHF/STO-3G gradient method”. Four equilibrium states and their isomerization transition states are obtained. The lowest energy structure 1 should be detectable in the experiment. That Li and F lie at the same side of C?C bond is a remarkable feature of 1. The dipole moments, Mulliken populations and frontier molecular Orbitals are also given and analyzed.     

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations for 3,6-dihydro-1,2-dithiin and 3,6-dihydro-1,2-dioxin

Optimized geometries and total energies for the conformers of 3,6-dihydro-1,2-dithiin ( 2 ) and 3,6-dihydro-1,2-dioxin ( 3 ) were calculated at several ab initio MO levels: RHF/3-21G(*), RHF/6-31G*, MP2/6-31G*, and MP2/6-31G*/ /RHF/3-21G(*). For the dioxin, in addition to the above levels the corresponding nonextended basis sets ab initio methods were also carried out. The dithiin results are compared with those of simple disulfanes, HSSH and (CH₃)₂S₂, whose optimized geometries agree closely with the observed structures, which is the gauche (C₂ symmetry). For the disulfanes, the gauche geometries from RHF/3-21G(*) are in good agreement with the observed structure while the RHF/3-21G results best fit the dioxin. Pertinent structural data at the RHF/3-21G(*) for the half-chair (C₂) dithiin are: bond lengths, ? SS? , ? CS? , ? CC?, and ? C?C? , 2.050, 1.817, 1.515, and 1.317 Å, respectively; bond angles, CSS, ?CCS, and C?CS, 98.0, 114.2, and 127.8°, respectively; CSSC dihedral angle of 63.2°; and twist angle of 36.5°. The total energy for half-chair dithiin at MP2/6-31G*//RHF/3-21G(*) is less than the planar (C_2v) and the half-boat (C_s) structures by 69.67 and 29.05 kJ/mol, respectively. The calculated structural data (vs. observed) at RHF/3-21G for the half-chair dioxin are: bond lengths, ? OO? , ? CO? , ? CC?, and C?C, 1.464 (1.463), 1.454, 1.509, and 1.313 Å (1.338 Å), respectively; bond angles, COO, ?CCO, and C?CO, 105.0, 109.8 (110.3), and 120.7° (119.9°), respectively; COOC dihedral angle of 79.7° (80 ± 2°); and twist angle of 39.0 (38.3°). The total energy for half-chair dioxin at MP2/6-31G//RHF/3-21G is less than the planar and the half-boat structures by 70.35 and 42.85 kJ/mol, respectively. The total energies calculated at the extended basis sets (*) ab initio levels for the C₂ symmetry dioxin are much lower than those of the nonextended basis sets. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Catechin mediated green synthesis of Au nanoparticles: Experimental and theoretical approaches to the determination HOMO-LUMO energy gap and reactivity indexes for the (+)-epicatechin (2S, 3S)

This work suggests a green method for synthesizing Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) using the aqueous extract of Salix aegyptiaca extract. The mechanism of green synthesized AuNPs was examined by molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) calculations. AuNPs were characterized with different techniques such as Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electrochemical investigation of modified glassy carbon electrode using AuNPs (AuNPs/GCE) shows that the electronic transmission rate between the modified electrode and [Fe (CN)₆]^3?/4? increased. Process of oxidation, energy gap, and chemical reactivity indexes of the (+)-epicatechin (2S,3S) were investigated using electrochemical techniques (cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) as well as UV–Visible spectroscopy and compared with quantum mechanical calculations. DPV and CV were used to obtain HOMO energies of the (+)-epicatechin (2S,3S), an optical energy gap was obtained from the UV–Vis spectroscopy. Frontier molecular orbitals analysis (FMO) and reactivity indexes such as chemical hardness (?), electrophilicity (?), electronic chemical potential (μ), electron acceptor power (?⁺), electron donor power (?^?) were determined with functional theory (DFT) calculations. In summary, the HOMO energy obtained from the experimental analyses (E_HOMO (from DPV) = -5.24 eV, and E_HOMO (from CV) = -5.28 eV) has a relative agreement with the HOMO energy calculated by B3LYP/6–31 g (d, p) including the solvent effect (water) (E_HOMO (from B3LYP) = -5.75 eV). Also, UV–Vis spectroscopy gives the bandgap energy equal to 4.31 eV, while the 4.13 eV is calculated by TD-DFT-b3lyp/6–31 + g(d).     

Structural relaxations and energy effects of intramolecular motions inN,N-dimethylnitramine: A theoretical study

The equilibrium geometry of theN,N-dimethylnitramine molecule and changes in the energy and structural parameters due to the internal rotation of the nitro group and the inversion of the N atom in the amino fragment were calculated by the restricted Hartree-Fock (RHF) method and at the second-order Møller-Plesset (MP2) level of perturbation theory with inclusion of electron correlation using the 6–31 G^* and 6–31 G^** basis sets. The one-dimensional potential functions of these motions calculated at the RHF/6–31 G^* level were approximated by a truncated Fourier and power series, respectively. The frequencies of torsional and inversion transitions were determined by solving direct vibrational problems for a non-rigid model,i.e., taking into account the molecular geometry relaxation. The equilibrium conformation of the molecular skeleton ofN,N-dimethylnitramine is nonplanar. Transition states of the internal rotation of the nitro group and inversion of the amine N atom are characterized by pronounced concerted changes in its bond angles and the length of the N?N bond. In the MP2/6–31 G^* approximation, the height of the barrier to internal rotation calculated taking into account the difference in the zero-point vibrational energies is equal to 9.7 kcal mol^?1. Inversion in the amino fragment is accompanied by a relatively small energy change at the barrier height of ?1.0 kcal mol^?1 calculated in the same approximation.     

Electron–Electron interaction energy in homonuclear diatomic molecules

The derivative of the electron–electron potential energy U_ee with respect to internuclear separation R is studied for light homonuclear diatomic molecules at equilibrium. It is readily related to nuclear–nuclear potential energy U_nn, the force constant K, and the electron–nuclear potential energy U_en. An approximate expression, based on the simplest form of density functional theory, is then used to eliminate dU_en/dR|_Re. The result thus obtained for dU_ee/dR|_Re transcends an earlier proposal of Kryachko by including a term 2/3R_eK, with K the force constant. Numerical tests at SCF–RHF level are presented for nine homonuclear diatomic molecules.     

Molecular structure and conformational transitions of dichloroacetylchloride

RHF and MP2 techniques in 6–31G(d) basis set have been used to determine the structure of the isolated molecule CHCl₂COCl in two stable conformations (cis-and gosh-), as well as in transition states arising due to the rotary motion of CHCl₂ group around the C—C bond. The energy gap between the conformers and the relevant potential barriers has been calculated using the obtained potential dependence of the internal rotation. Plausible conformation of dichloroacetylchloride is discussed on the basis of ³⁵Cl NQR.     

Shaping the density to fit one-electron properties: Constrained RHF calculations on N2, FH,CO, and LiH

The molecular density required to give the correct values for one-electron properties is rarely given by wave functions obtained from variation methods based on the total energy or the eigenvalues. Perhaps if we knew how the density should be shaped in any particular volume to fit a particular property, the whole molecular density might then be properly described to fit the whole volume. The secant-parametrization procedure is used to constrain minimum basis set RHF wave functions for N₂, FH, CO, and LiH to determine the effects of different constraints on RHF wave functions, and to see how constraints improve the quality of small basis set RHF wave functions. One-electron property expectation values, energies, and unweighted and property weighted populations and electron density difference profiles are used to analyze the constrained wavefunctions. With the information from the constrained wave functions it should be possible to select a LCAO -CI basis and states to give the correct density for all properties. This should map onto the constrained wave function in the region of the constraint and at the same time minimize the energy of the total molecular wave function. Such a density would be suitable for the density analyses favored by Bader and Nguyen-Dang [Adv. Quantum Chem. 14 , 113 (1981)], Mezey [Theor. Chim. Acta 54 , 95 (1980); 58 , 309 (1981); 59 , 321 (1981)], and March [Theoretical Chemistry (Royal Society of Chemistry, London, 1981), Vol. 4, p. 158], and show the real atom needed to generate the molecule.     

Stereoelectronic structure of MCl4-benzoyl chloride (M=Si,Ge, Sn) systems resulting from ab initio calculations and NQR 35Cl

Results of quantum-chemical calculations of MCl₄–C₆H₅COCl (M=Si, Ge, Sn) systems of 1?:?1 composition using RHF/3-21?G* and MP2/3-21?G* levels as well as those of 1?:?2 composition using the RHF/3-21?G* level have been represented. MCl₄?←?C₆H₅COCl complexes of 1?:?1 composition are energetically more advantageous. They are formed in solid state provided that the M···O distance in individual systems is considerably less than the sum of van der Waals radii of M and O and their total energies are appreciably less than the sum of total energies of components. These conditions are realized only for M=Sn. In systems of 1?:?2 compositions, calculated M···O distances are practically equal to the sum of covalent radii of M and O. Nonetheless, complexes with such composition are not formed in solid state. Total energy of the system which is lower than the sum of its components’ energies is not an indispensable condition for complex formation. The ³⁵Cl nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) frequencies and asymmetry parameters of the electric field gradient at the ³⁵Cl nuclei have been evaluated using the results of ab initio calculations.     

Efficient Intramolecular Charge Transfer in Oligoyne‐Linked Donor–π–Acceptor Molecules

Studies are reported on a series of triphenylamine–(C?C)_n–2,5‐diphenyl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole dyad molecules (n=1–4, 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 , respectively) and the related triphenylamine‐C₆H₄–(C?C)₃–oxadiazole dyad 5 . The oligoyne‐linked D–π–A (D=electron donor, A=electron acceptor) dyad systems have been synthesised by palladium‐catalysed cross‐coupling of terminal alkynyl and butadiynyl synthons with the corresponding bromoalkynyl moieties. Cyclic voltammetric studies reveal a reduction in the HOMO–LUMO gap in the series of compounds 1 – 4 as the oligoyne chain length increases, which is consistent with extended conjugation through the elongated bridges. Photophysical studies provide new insights into conjugative effects in oligoyne molecular wires. In non‐polar solvents the emission from these dyad systems has two different origins: a locally excited (LE) state, which is responsible for a π*→π fluorescence, and an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state, which produces charge‐transfer emission. In polar solvents the LE state emission vanishes and only ICT emission is observed. This emission displays strong solvatochromism and analysis according to the Lippert–Mataga–Oshika formalism shows significant ICT for all the luminescent compounds with high efficiency even for the longer more conjugated systems. The excited‐state properties of the dyads in non‐polar solvents vary with the extent of conjugation. For more conjugated systems a fast non‐radiative route dominates the excited‐state decay and follows the Engelman–Jortner energy gap law. The data suggest that the non‐radiative decay is driven by the weak coupling limit.     

Approximate transferability in alkanenitriles

The atomic and bond properties of a series of alkanenitriles were calculated in order to analyze the transferability of the CN, methyl, and methylene groups. The calculations were carried out using the atoms in molecules (AIM) theory on RHF/6‐31++G**// RHF/6‐31G** wave functions obtained for compounds CN–R (R ranging from H to C₁₁H₂₃). Linear correlations between L(Ω) and N(Ω) were used to establish N(CH₂) and N(CH₃) nearly transferable values. Average values and maximum differences to the mean value of several properties were used for classifying the CN group. It shows a transferable behavior along the CN–R series for R>Et. The methyl group presents specific properties when R<Pr. The methylene groups can be classified considering both their position with respect to the end of the chain and the position with respect to the CN group. The atomic energy displays a dependence on the molecular size. Although this behavior does not allow to consider this property as transferable, both the ab initio total electronic molecular energies and the experimental heats of formation can be fitted, by linear regression analysis, as a function of the number of methylene groups. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001     

The Diversity of Electron‐Transport Behaviors of Molecular Junctions: Correlation with the Electron‐Transport Pathway

We report the electron‐transport behaviors of a number of molecular junctions composed of π‐conjugated molecular wires. From calculations performed by using density functional theory (DFT) combined with the non‐equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) method, we found that the length–conductivity relations are diverse, depending on the particular molecular structures. The results reveal that the conductance–length dependence follows an exponential law for many conjugated molecules with a single channel, such as oligothiophene, oligopyrrole and oligophenylene. Therefore, a quantitative relation between the energy gap (E_g)_∞ of the molecular wire and the attenuation factor β can be defined. However, when the molecular wires have multichannels, the decay of conductance does not follow the exponential relation. For example, the conductance of porphyrin‐based oligomers and fused thiophene decays almost linearly. The diversity of electron‐transport behaviors of molecular junctions is directly dominated by the electron‐transport pathway.     

Peptide models XXIII. Conformational model for polar side‐chain containing amino acid residues: A comprehensive analysis of RHF,DFT, and MP2 properties of HCO‐L‐SER‐NH2

Geometric and energetic properties of a diamide of serine, HCO‐NH‐L ‐CH(CH₂OH)CO‐NH₂, are investigated by standard methods of computational quantum chemistry. Similarly to other amino acid residues, conformational properties of HCO‐L ‐Ser‐NH₂ can be derived from the analysis of its E=E(ϕ,ψ;χ₁,χ₂) hypersurface. Reoptimization of 44 RHF/3‐21G conformers at the RHF/6‐311++G** level resulted in 36 minima. For all conformers, geometrical properties, including variation of H‐bond parameters and structural shifts in the torsional space, are thoroughly investigated. Results from further single‐point energy calculations at the RHF, DFT, and MP2 levels, performed on the entire conformational data set, form a database of 224 energy values, perhaps the largest set calculated so far for any single amino acid diamide. A comprehensive analysis of this database reveals significant correlation among energies obtained at six levels of ab initio theory. Regression parameters provide an opportunity for extrapolation in order to predict the energy of a conformer at a high level by doing explicit ab initio computations only for a few selected conformers. The computed conformational and relative energy data are compared with structural and occurrence results derived from a nonhomologous protein database incorporating 1135 proteins. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 21: 626–655, 2000     

Electronic, Energetic, and Geometric Properties of Methylene-Functionalized C60

Chemical functionalization of C₆₀ fullerene with one to six carbene (CH₂) molecule(s) has been investigated using density functional theory. We have found that the reaction is regioselective so that a CH₂ molecule prefers to be adsorbed atop a C–C bond which is shared between two hexagonal rings of the C₆₀, releasing energy of ?3.95 eV. Singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) of the CH₂ interacts with LUMO of the C₆₀ via a [2 + 1] cycloaddition reaction. Energy of the reaction and work function of the system are decreased by increasing the number of adsorbed CH₂ molecules. The HOMO/LUMO energy gap of C₆₀ is slightly changed and the electron emission from its surface is facilitated upon the functionalization.     

16α,17α‐Epoxy‐20‐oxopregn‐5‐en‐3β‐yl acetate

The title compound, C₂₃H₃₂O₄, has a 3β configuration, with the epoxy O atom at 16α,17α. Rings A and C have slightly distorted chair conformations. Because of the presence of the C5=C6 double bond, ring B assumes an 8β,9α‐half‐chair conformation slightly distorted towards an 8β‐sofa. Ring D has a conformation close to a 14α‐envelope. The acetoxy and acetyl substituents are twisted with respect to the average molecular plane of the steroid. The conformation of the mol­ecule is compared with that given by a quantum chemistry calculation using the RHF–AM1 (RHF = Roothaan Hartree–Fock) Hamiltonian model. Cohesion of the crystal can be attributed to van der Waals interactions and weak intermolecular C—H?O interactions, which link the mol­ecules head‐to‐tail along [101].     

Theoretical studies of some sulphonamides as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in acidic medium

Density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6‐31G (d,p) and BP86/CEP‐31G* basis set levels and ab initio calculations using the RHF/6‐31G (d,p) methods were performed on four sulfonamides (namely sulfaacetamide (SAM), sulfapyridine (SPY), sulfamerazine (SMR), and sulfathiazole (STI)) used as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in acidic medium to determine the relationship between molecular structure and their inhibition efficiencies (%IE). The order of inhibition efficiency obtained was SMR > SPY > STI > SAM which corresponded with the order of most of the calculated quantum chemical parameters namely E_HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital energy), E_LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy), the energy gap (ΔE), the Mulliken charges on the C, O, N, S atoms, hardness (η), softness (S), polarizability (α), dipole moment (μ), total energy change (ΔE_T), electrophilicity (ω), electron affinity (A), ionization potential (I), the absolute electronegativity (χ), and the fraction of electrons transferred (ΔN). Quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) approach has been used and a correlation of the composite index of some of the quantum chemical parameters was performed to characterize the inhibition performance of the sulfonamides studied. The results showed that the %IE of the sulfonamides was closely related to some of the quantum chemical parameters but with varying degrees/order. The calculated %IE of the sulfonamides studied was found to be close to their experimental corrosion inhibition efficiencies. The experimental data obtained fits the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The negative sign of the E_HOMO values and other thermodynamic parameters obtained indicates that the data obtained supports physical adsorption mechanism. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

Geminal interactions in ClZ(CH3)2X molecules (Z = C, Si, Ge) according to ab initio calculations

The structure and electronic parameters of ClZ(CH₃)₂X molecules (Z = C, Si, Ge, X = CH₃, OCH₃) were calculated by the RHF/6–31G(d) and RHF/6–311G(d,p) methods with full geometry optimization; calculations of ClZ(CH₃)₂OCH₃ molecules were also performed by the RHF/6–31G(d) method with partial geometry optimization. The ³⁵Cl NQR frequencies calculated from the populations of less diffuse 3p constituents of valence p orbitals of chlorine [RHF/6–31G(d)] were in agreement with the experimental values. The ³⁵Cl NQR frequencies for molecules with X = OCH₃ are lower than those for molecules with X = CH₃ (the Z atom being the same), due mainly to direct through-field polarization of the Z-Cl bond, induced by the effect of unshared electron pair of the oxygen atom in the trans position with respect to that bond. The difference in the ³⁵Cl NQR frequencies decreases in going from Z = C to Z = Si, Ge, in parallel with variation of the Z-Cl bond polarization as the size of Z increases.     

Photodegradation of organic compounds using chromium oxide-doped nano-sulfated zirconia

ZrO₂ is considered a huge-gap semiconductor (band gap ≈ 5 eV). To improve the visible-light photocatalytic activities of ZrO₂, an efficient Cr, SO₄ ^2? co-doped ZrO₂ photocatalyst was synthesized by the simple impregnation method followed by calcination at different calcination temperatures (300, 400, 500, and 600 °C) for 3 h. The synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy analysis, scanning electron microscopy analysis, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, FT-IR spectroscopic technique, potentiometric titration and UV–Vis spectroscopy analysis. ZrO₂ co-doped with Cr and SO₄ ^2? shows more efficiency than SO₄ ^2?-doped ZrO₂ in several aspects like surface structure, decreasing electron–hole recombination and band gap energy. The photodegradation of methylene blue dye for SO₄ ^2?-doped ZrO₂ and Cr, SO₄ ^2?-co-doped ZrO₂ has been investigated. The photocatalytic reaction confirmed that the co-doped ZrO₂ photocatalyst showed higher photocatalytic activity than mono-doped ZrO₂.     

Ab initio calculations of relativistic and electron correlation effects in polyatomics using the universal Gaussian basis set: XeF2

Ab initio accurate all-electron relativistic molecular orbital Dirac–Fock self-consistent field calculations are reported for the linear symmetric XeF₂ molecule at various internuclear distances with our recently developed relativistic universal Gaussian basis set. The nonrelativistic limit Hartree–Fock calculations were also performed for XeF₂ at various internuclear distances. The relativistic correction to the electronic energy of XeF₂ was calculated as ～ ?215 hartrees (?5850 eV) by using the Dirac–Fock method. The dominant magnetic part of the Breit interaction correction to the nonrelativistic interelectron Coulomb repulsion was included in our calculations by both the Dirac–Fock–Breit self-consistent field and perturbation methods. The calculated Breit correction is ～6.5 hartrees (177 eV) for XeF₂. The relativistic Dirac–Fock as well as the nonrelativistic HF wave functions predict XeF₂ to be unbound, due to neglect of electron correlation effects. These effects were incorporated for XeF₂ by using various ab initio post Hartree–Fock methods. The calculated dissociation energy obtained using the MP 2(full) method with our extensive basis set of 313 primitive Gaussians that included d and f polarization functions on Xe and F is 2.77 eV, whereas the experimental dissociation energy is 2.78 eV. The calculated correlation energy is ～ ?2 hartrees (?54 eV) at the predicted internuclear distance of 1.986 Å, which is in excellent agreement with the experimental Xe—F distance of 1.979 Å in XeF₂. In summary, electron correlation effects must be included in accurate ab initio calculations since it has been shown here that their inclusion is crucial for obtaining theoretical dissociation energy (D_e) close to experimental value for XeF₂. Furthermore, relativistic effects have been shown to make an extremely significant contribution to the total energy and orbital binding energies of XeF₂. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Density functional study of structural and electronic properties of AlnN (1 ≤ n ≤ 12) clusters

Low‐lying equilibrium geometric structures of Al_nN (n = 1–12) clusters obtained by an all‐electron linear combination of atomic orbital approach, within spin‐polarized density functional theory, are reported. The binding energy, dissociation energy, and stability of these clusters are studied within the local spin density approximation (LSDA) and the three‐parameter hybrid generalized gradient approximation (GGA) due to Becke–Lee–Yang–Parr (B3LYP). Ionization potentials, electron affinities, hardness, and static dipole polarizabilities are calculated for the ground‐state structures within the GGA. It is observed that symmetric structures with the nitrogen atom occupying the internal position are lowest‐energy geometries. Generalized gradient approximation extends bond lengths as compared with the LSDA lengths. The odd–even oscillations in the dissociation energy, the second differences in energy, the highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO–LUMO) gaps, the ionization potential, the electron affinity, and the hardness are more pronounced within the GGA. The stability analysis based on the energies clearly shows the Al₇N cluster to be endowed with special stability. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Synthesis,Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of Mg‐Impregnated ZnO–SnO2 Coupled Nanoparticles

ZnO–SnO₂ nanoparticles were prepared by coprecipitation method; then Mg, with different molar ratios and calcination temperatures, was loaded on the coupled nanoparticles by impregnation method. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) techniques. Based on XRD results, the ZnO–SnO₂ and Mg/ZnO–SnO₂ nanoparticles were made of ZnO and SnO₂ nanocrystallites. According to DRS spectra, the band gap energy value of 3.13 and 3.18 eV were obtained for ZnO–SnO₂ and Mg/ZnO–SnO₂ nanoparticles, respectively. BET analysis revealed a Type III isotherm with a microporous structure and surface area of 32.051 and 49.065 m² g^?1 for ZnO–SnO₂ and Mg/ZnO–SnO₂, respectively. Also, the spherical shape of nanocrystallites was deduced from TEM and FESEM images. The photocatalytic performance of pure ZnO–SnO₂ and Mg/ZnO–SnO₂ was analyzed in the photocatalytic removal of methyl orange (MO). The results indicated that Mg/ZnO–SnO₂ exhibited superior photocatalytic activity to bare ZnO–SnO₂ photocatalyst due to high surface area, increased MO adsorption and larger band gap energy. Maximum photocatalytic activity of Mg/ZnO–SnO₂ nanoparticles was obtained with 0.8 mol% Mg and calcination temperature of 350°C.