Photocatalytic performance for palm-fiber-like SnS2 nanoflakes with full solar spectrum light response

Abstract

A palm-fiber-like SnS2 with multilayer structure has been hydrothermally synthesized by anion exchange process from vertically-aligned Sn3O4 nanoflake arrays precursors. Compared to monolayer SnS2, the multilayer SnS2 exhibits obvious photothermal effect and displays excellent photocatalytic activity for RhB degradation and CO2 reduction under full solar spectrum. The multilayer SnS2 is found to have a larger electrochemically active surface area, and increased absorption for full solar spectrum with the merits of micron- and nanometer-scale structure favors to absorb the full spectrum of sunlight. The combined effect for the UV–vis absorption by the nanoscale primary structure and NIR absorption by the secondary micron-structure likely play an important role for its superior absorption capability and photocatalytic activity. This work is expected to provide a foundation to develop photocatalysts, photodetectors, solar cells and other solar energy conversion devices with full solar spectrum light response.