Facile fabrication of p-BiOI/n-Zn2SnO4 heterostructures with highly enhanced visible light photocatalytic performances

New BiOI/Zn2SnO4 p-n heterojunction photocatalysts were prepared by anchoring n-type Zn2SnO4 nanoparticles on p-type BiOI plates. The physicochemical characteristics of the catalysts were studied by X-ray powder diffraction pattern (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), Ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), nitrogen adsorption-desorption, and photoelectrochemistry measurement. The as-prepared catalysts exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of methyl orange (MO) under visible light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of BiOI/Zn2SnO4 was not only attributed to the matched band potentials but also the interconnected heterojunction of BiOI and Zn2SnO4 nanoparticles. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.