Synthesis, characterization and enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity of Zn2SnO4/C nanocomposites with truncated octahedron morphology

Novel Zn2SnO4/C nanocomposites with truncated octahedron morphology were constructed using a two-step hydrothermal synthesis route combined with subsequent calcination. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area measurements. The result of FESEM showed that the as-prepared Zn2SnO4/C nanocomposites are composed of numerous uniform nanoparticles with regular truncated octahedron morphology. Raman spectral characterization combined with HRTEM result revealed that a thin layer of carbon was attached on the surface of Zn2SnO4. Using rhodamine B (RhB) as a model organic pollutant, the visible-light photocatalytic activities of the as-prepared samples were investigated, and the photocatalytic mechanism was discussed. Compared with pure Zn2SnO4, Zn2SnO4/C nanocomposites exhibited much better visible-light photocatalytic activity. The increase in the photocatalytic activity of Zn2SnO4/C nanocomposites was mainly attributed to the enhancement of the optical absorption capability and efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.