Visible light photocatalytic properties of one-step SnO2-templated grown SnO2/SnS2 heterostructure and SnS2 nanoflakes

The nanoflakes of SnS2/SnO2 heterostructure and SnS2 were synthesized by a one-step SnO2-templated chemical vapor deposition method. The metal oxide-assisted growth mechanism of SnS2/SnO2 heterostructure and SnS2 nanoflakes were realized through investigating serial microstructures of products with varied growth time. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity for MB dyes degradation of varied growth time products was used to explore the effect of product microstructure under the visible light irradiation. The SnO2/SnS2 heterostructure and the oxide vacancies of nanoflakes demonstrated an improved visible light photocatalytic performance for MB degradation, which was around twice of the pure SnS2 nanoflakes and better than P25. The results of different scavengers on the degradation efficiency for MB indicate the center dot O-2 (-), and center dot OH are the main active species in the photodegradation reaction. The one-step growth mechanism of SnS2/SnO2 could prove a facile process to grow metal oxide-metal sulfide heterostructure.

Automated summary

The SnS2/SnO2 heterostructure and SnS2 nanoflakes were synthesized using a one-step SnO2-templated chemical vapor deposition method. The photocatalytic activity for MB degradation under visible light was significantly enhanced by the SnO2/SnS2 heterostructure and oxide vacancies of nanoflakes, with O-2(-) and OH identified as the main active species in the photodegradation reaction.