Abstract
Improving the photocatalytic performance of multi-component photocatalysts through structural modulation and band alignment engineering has attracted great interest in the context of solar energy utilization and conversion. In our work, Zn2SnO4/SnO2 hierarchical architectures comprising nanorod building block assemblies were first achieved via a facile solvothermal synthesis route with lysine and ethylenediamine (EDA) as directing agents, and then chemically etched in NaOH solution to enlarge the surface area and augment active sites. The etched Zn2SnO4/SnO2 hierarchical architectures were further decorated by Cu2O nanoparticles though an in situ chemical deposition method based on band alignment engineering. In comparison with unetched Zn2SnO4/SnO2, the specific surface area of Zn2SnO4/SnO2/Cu2O hierarchical architectures became larger, and the responsive region and absorbance intensity became wider and higher in the whole visible-light range. Zn2SnO4/SnO2/Cu2O hybrid photocatalysts presented enormously improved visible-light photocatalytic behaviour for Rhodamine B (RhB) decomposition. The enhancement of photocatalytic behaviour was dominantly attributed to the synergy effect of the larger specific surface area, higher light absorption capacity, and more effective photo-induced charge carrier separation and migration. A proposed mechanism for the enormously promoted photocatalytic behaviour is brought forth on the basis of the energy-band structure combined with experimental results.
Highlights
As one of the widely investigated ternary oxide materials in the application of photodegrading pollutants [1,2,3,4,5,6], Zn2SnO4 (ZSO) has the prominent advantages of relatively high electron mobility and long-term chemical stability
Junploy et al [8] reported an approach involving co-precipitation combined with calcination for the synthesis of Zn2SnO4/SnO2, and the results showed that the as-obtained Zn2SnO4/SnO2 displayed improved photocatalytic efficiency toward the degradation of MB under UV light illumination, as compared to Zn2SnO4 and SnO2
Most previously reported studies were focused on the improvement of UV-light photocatalytic behavior over Zn2SnO4/SnO2 photocatalysts, while the relevant studies on visible light photocatalytic activity were relatively scarce, probably because both Zn2SnO4 and SnO2 belong to the group of wide band-gap photocatalysts
Summary
As one of the widely investigated ternary oxide materials in the application of photodegrading pollutants [1,2,3,4,5,6], Zn2SnO4 (ZSO) has the prominent advantages of relatively high electron mobility and long-term chemical stability. We all know that it is very difficult for a single component photocatalyst to overcome the intrinsic drawbacks of a low quantum rate and high recombination rate only by morphological modulation In this regard, constructing composites is one of the most facile and efficient solutions, because the construction of coupling ZSO with other matchable photocatalysts is beneficial for prolonging the lifespan of photo-generated charge carriers and accelerating charge carrier separation [14,15,16,17]. Despite the previous achievements mentioned above, it is still a challenge to achieve a novel, multi-component Zn2SnO4-SnO2-based photocatalyst by simultaneously extending the light absorption range and increasing the spatial separation of photogenerated charge carriers
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