Fabrication of flower-like Sn3O4 hierarchical nanostructure and its photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution from water

Abstract

Sn3O4 flower-like hierarchical nanostructures were prepared by a hydrothermal process without the help of templates or surfactants. Meanwhile, photocatalytic H2 evolution from water over the as-prepared Sn3O4 hierarchical nanostructures was explored using methyl alcohol as a sacrificial reagent. The results indicate that the Sn3O4 hierarchical nanostructure adopts spherical flower-like morphology assembled from nanosheets. Moreover, the Sn3O4 flower-like hierarchical nanostructure is an efficient photocatalyst for visible-light-driven H2 evolution from water. Under optimal conditions, the H2 evolution rate over the Sn3O4 hierarchical nanostructure is up to 184 μmol h−1 g−1.