Low temperature synthesis of SnSr(OH)6nanoflowers and photocatalytic performance for organic pollutants

Abstract

AbstractA simple low temperature hydrothermal route has been used for the synthesis of strontium tin hydroxide (SrSn(OH)6) nanoflowers. The synthesized SrSn(OH)6nanoflowers were investigated by means of powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and solid ultraviolet−visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The SrSn(OH)6nanoflowers are composed of nanorods with hexagonal structure, length and diameter of about 2 µm and 30–100 nm, respectively. The growth process of the SrSn(OH)6nanoflowers is proposed as the Ostwald ripening and crystal splitting process based on the morphological evolution from different hydrothermal conditions. The band gap of the nanoflowers is 3.53 eV. The SrSn(OH)6nanoflowers were utilized for the photocatalytic degradation of gentian violet under ultraviolet light irradiation. The roles of various factors including irradiation time and nanoflower dosage on the photocatalytic activity of the SrSn(OH)6nanoflowers are discussed. The possible photocatalytic mechanism for gentian violet degradation using the SrSn(OH)6nanoflowers was determined by radical trapping experiments. The SrSn(OH)6nanoflowers possess good stability and are an efficient photocatalyst for the removal of organic pollutants.