SrSnO3 nanostructures:: Synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic properties

Dumbbell-like and rodlike nanostructures of SrSnO3 were successfully synthesized by calcination of the corresponding hydrothermally prepared precursors, SrSn(OH)(6), at 1100 degrees C in air. The structure and morphology of the as-synthesized sample were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and volumetric adsorption method (BET). The photocatalytic activity of the SrSnO3 products for the H-2 and O-2 evolution was systematically investigated under UV light irradiation. It was found that nanostructured SrSnO3 photocatalysts with different morphologies possess 10 times more photoactivity than the solid-state reaction sample under UV light irradiation.