Flux-Assisted Low Temperature Synthesis of SnNb2O6 Nanoplates with Enhanced Visible Light Driven Photocatalytic H2-Production

Abstract

Foordite SnNb2O6 as a typical layered niobate has gained great attention in photocatalytic applications owing to its narrow band gap and proper conduction and valence band potentials. However, the ever reported methods toward the synthesis of SnNb2O6 nanostructures required either the use of environmentally unfriendly solvents or a prolonged high temperature heat treatment. Herein, we develop a facile flux-assisted low temperature synthesis route for the preparation of SnNb2O6 nanoplates by using H4Nb2O7 and SnCl2 as precursors. The as-obtained SnNb2O6 nanoplates with a thickness of ∼50 nm display improved visible light photocatalytic H2-production activity, which is about 10 times higher than that of a bulk SnNb2O6 sample. The enhanced photocatalytic H2-production activity can be ascribed to its nanoplate-like architecture, larger specific surface area, and better charge transfer efficiency.