High Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity Research Articles

Synthesis of Cr3+-doped TiO2 nanoparticles: characterization and evaluation of their visible photocatalytic performance and stability

ABSTRACTCr3+-doped TiO2 nanoparticles (Ti-Cr) were synthesized by microwave-assisted sol-gel method. The Ti-Cr catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption analysis, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and zetametry. The anatase mesoporous Ti-Cr material exhibited a specific surface area of 54.5 m2/g. XPS analysis confirmed the proper substitution of Ti4+ cations by Cr3+ cations in the TiO2 matrix. The particle size was of average size of 17 nm for the undoped TiO2 but only 9.5 nm for Ti-Cr. The Cr atoms promoted the formation of hydroxyl radicals and modified the surface adsorptive properties of TiO2 due to the increase in surface acidity of the material. The photocatalytic evaluation demonstrated that the Ti-Cr catalyst completely degraded (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) acetic acid under visible light irradiation, while undoped TiO2 and P25 allowed 45.7% and 31.1%, respectively. The rate of degradation remained 52% after three cycles of catalyst reuse. The higher visible light photocatalytic activity of Ti-Cr was attributed to the beneficial effect of Cr3+ ions on the TiO2 surface creating defects within the TiO2 crystal lattice, which can act as charge-trapping sites, reducing the electron−hole recombination process.

Fabricating carbon quantum dots doped ZnIn2S4 nanoflower composites with broad spectrum and enhanced photocatalytic Tetracycline hydrochloride degradation

In this study, a simple in-situ hydrothermal method was demonstrated for fabricating a novel photocatalyst with broad spectrum response based on carbon quantum dots doped ZnIn2S4 nanoflowers(ZIS/CQDs). Compared with pure ZnIn2S4, ZIS/CQDs samples with broader sunlight spectrum responses and higher photostabilities exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performances towards photodegradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) under UV, visible, NIR light and simulated sunlight irradiation. ZIS/CQDs samples all presented higher NIR light activities while pure ZnIn2S4 showed no such ability. The up-converted photoluminescence property of CQDs in composites played an important role in enhancing NIR light response and photodegradation of TCH. Further, ZIS/CQDs sample also possessed the high visible-light photocatalytic activity to degrade rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl orange (MO). A possible mechanism of CQDs on the enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZIS/CQDs sample was also proposed.

Facile and large-scale preparation of N doped TiO2 photocatalyst with high visible light photocatalytic activity

High visible light photocatalytic activity of N-doped TiO2 (N-TiO2) photocatalysts were prepared by facile sol-gel method in large-scale without separation, purification and thermal treatment at high temperature. Ammonium nitrate (AN) was used as nitrogen source and solid substrates, hydrous TiO2 deposited onto the surface of AN micro-particles during the formation of compound gel. AN thermal decomposed and N-TiO2 photocatalysts were obtained by compound dry gel (CDG) calcined at low temperature. N element thermal diffused enter into lattice of TiO2, and the effects of AN evidently facilitated the product transformation from amorphous to anatase. Meanwhile, the doped N element promoted the formation of doping level and its light absorption edge extended to visible region. We systematically research the doping ratio of AN, the different calcined time at low temperature to prepare N-TiO2 with high photocatalytic activity in visible region. As-prepared N-TiO2 photocatalysts exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity under the illumination of visible light, and the photodegradation reaction rate constant was approximately 6 times higher than pure TiO2 samples.

Facile one-pot synthesis of cerium oxide/sulfur-doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as efficient nanophotocatalysts under visible light irradiation

Porous CeO2/sulfur-doped g-C3N4 (CeO2/CNS) composites were synthesized by one-pot thermal condensation of thiourea and cerium nitrate as starting materials. The obtained CeO2(x)/CNS composites (x=8.4, 9.5 and 10.4wt%) with different CeO2 contents were characterized by the XRD, FT-IR, XPS, TEM, BET, DRS and PL analyses. The TEM images displayed a nonporous and platelet-like morphology for pure CNS but a nanoporous structure with numerous uniform pore sizes of ∼40nm for the CeO2(9.5)/CNS composite. The XRD phase structures and TEM morphologies confirmed that structural evolution trend and stacking degree of CNS were disrupted in precense of the CeO2 nanoparticles. The optimized photocatalyst, i.e. CeO2(9.5)/CNS nanocomposite, exhibited the highest visible light photocatalytic activity (91.4% after 150min) with a reaction rate constant of 0.0152min−1 toward methylene blue (MB) degradation which was greater compared with the individual CNS (0.0044min−1) and CeO2 (0.0031min−1) photocatalysts. This enhanced photocatalytic performance was originated from heterojunctions formed between CeO2 and CNS that improved the effective charge transfer through interfacial interactions between both components. The heterojunction prepared displayed excellent stability for the photocatalytic activity under the optimized conditions including catalyst dosage 0.08g, initial dye concentration 7mg/L and irradiation time 150min which was obtained using response surface methodology (RSM). The trapping experiments using isopropanol, benzoquinone and ethylenediaminetetraacetic as the OH, O2− and h+ scavengers, respectively, verified that the OH and O2− as major species directly attacked onto the MB molecules while h+ showed a negligible role. Finally, it could be stated that simultaneous doping of both sulfur and CeO2 within the g-C3N4 structure using a simple one-pot synthetic process produced very active photocatalysts illustrating their potential for practical applications in industrial water treatment purposes.

Highly ordered Ag–TiO2 nanocomposited arrays with high visible-light photocatalytic activity

TiO2 is active only in the ultraviolet region. To enhance the active ability, a combined method consisting of the anodic oxidation method and the hydrothermal method was developed to prepare highly ordered Ag-TiO2 nanocomposited arrays. The anodic oxidation was used to synthesize amorphous nanotubes with high chemical activity that subsequently served as highly ordered templates in preparing the final sample. The amorphous nanotubes got converted to highly ordered Ag-TiO2 (anatase) arrays in the silver nitrate & glucose aqueous solution via hydrothermal treatment. SEM and TEM results show that the Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite was composed of a large number of Ag nanoparticles and anatase TiO2 nanoparticles, and the morphology of those at the top of the arrays was found different from that of its trunk. The morphology evolution mechanism of the obtained sample was discussed. It is also revealed that the Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite has high visible-light photocatalytic activity.

Hydrothermal synthesis of reduced graphene oxide-CoFe2O4 heteroarchitecture for high visible light photocatalytic activity: Exploration of efficiency, stability and mechanistic pathways

RGO-CoFe2O4 heterostructure nanocomposite was prepared by hydrothermal method and was characterized by various analytical techniques such as Powder X-ray Diffraction method (PXRD), UV–vis absorbance, Photoluminescence (PL), Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) spectroscopic techniques, BET surface area measurements, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Raman Spectroscopy and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). The results confirmed the formation of hybrid structure with CoFe2O4 particles embedded in RGO sheets. Photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposites was probed for the degradation of 4-Chlorophenol (4-CP) as the model compound under the visible light illumination. The photocatalytic activity decreases in the following order RGO-CoFe2O4>CoFe2O4>RGO. Further the activity of RGO-CoFe2O4 composite was explored in the presence of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) as an oxidant. LUMO of PMS can accommodate photogenerated electrons, thereby suppresses the recombination process. The enhanced activity of RGO-CoFe2O4 hybrid is compared to its individual counterparts and the higher activity is accounted to its unique electronic structure. RGO serves as electron acceptor from CoFe2O4 and electron donor to the oxygen molecule. During the photocatalysis, transformation of the native structure from normal spinel to inverse spinel and vice versa may take place continuously from the process of electron trapping and detrapping by Fe3+ and Co2+ions. The observed continuous absorption for RGO-CoFe2O4 composite in the UV–vis spectra implies active d–d transitions involving transition metals present in the nanocomposite.

Microwave synthesis of nanoparticulate EuFeO3 and its visible light photocatalytic activity

ABSTRACTUsing Eu(NO3)3·6H2O and Fe(NO3)3·9H2O as raw material, the nanoparticulate EuFeO3 was directly synthesized by a one-step microwave route without additional high temperature calcination process. The prepared sample was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The results show that the EuFeO3 is single phase perovskite, and its morphology is nanoparticle with an average diameter of about 60–80 nm. The prepared nanoparticle has an optical band gap of 2.3 eV, and exhibits strong visible-light absorption. The photocatalytic activity of nanoparticulate EuFeO3 was investigated in experimental simulation wastewater containing 10 mg/L methyl orange (MO). The photocatalytic experiment indicates that the prepared nanoparticulate EuFeO3 was highly visible-light activities for the degradation of MO. It is suggested that the narrow band gap and the strong visible-light absorption are responsible for the high visible-light photocatalytic activity of the prepared EuFeO3.

Enhanced optical absorption and photocatalytic activity of anatase TiO2 through C[sbnd]Nd-codoped: A DFT+U calculations

The electronic and optical properties are investigated using density functional theory plus U approach in CNd monodoped and codoped anatase TiO2. The calculated results indicate that C dopant can enhance the intensity of optical absorption and Nd dopant can extend the optical absorption range into the whole visible spectrum in CNd-codoped anatase TiO2, and the Nd 4f states can effectively reduce the recombination of photo-excited electron-hole pairs thus achieving higher visible light photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production by water splitting than pure TiO2. Moreover, we also study the effects of doping concentration and impurity distance in CNd-codoped anatase TiO2 system, finding that the higher doping concentration, the stronger absorption activity, and absorption activity increases with the shortness of impurity distance due to the assemblage of impurity states.

SbSI nanowires and CNTs encapsulated with SbSI as photocatalysts with high visible-light driven photoactivity

Antimony sulfoiodide nanowires (SbSI-NWs) were fabricated via a facile short time sonochemical reaction to form a new visible light responsive photocatalyst. Identifying techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), emission electron microscopy (SEM), BET surface area analysis, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) were employed to characterize the as-prepared specimen. A remarkably high visible light photocatalytic activity was revealed for SbSI-NWs toward the degradation of Acid Blue 92 organic dye in aqueous solution. As results confirmed, photogenerated superoxide radicals (O2−) play the major role in the photo-oxidation reaction. Meanwhile, to enhance the photocatalytic activity and to deal with the low photostability of SbSI-NWs, they were grown inside the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) lead to the formation of CNTs encapsulated with SbSI (SbSI@CNTs) nanocomposite. The photodegradation process was much more efficient in the presence of SbSI@CNTs compare to the pure SbSI-NWs.

Macroscopic urea-functionalized cadmium sulfide material with high visible-light photocatalytic activity for rewritable paper application

A macroscopic urea-functionalized CdS (CdS-U) is synthesized for the first time. The CdS-U material is formed through the interaction between NH2/NH groups on urea and COO− groups on sodium oleate-capped CdS nanoparticles (CdS-So NPs). The CdS-U material exhibites excellent visible light photocatalytic activity and plasticity and has the potential to be produced as rewritable papers. It is convenience to produce a large-scale film by CdS-U. Letters can be written on the CdS-U film and disappear through a dissolution-irradiation process, and then the CdS-U film can be recycled by drying. This novel CdS-U material might be of interest and provide a new chance to advance the application of visible light photocatalyst on rewritable papers.

BiVO4/Mn3O4 a novel p–n heterojunction photocatalyst functionalized with metalloporphyrins: Synthesis, charge transfer mechanism, and enhanced visible‐light photocatalysis for degradation of dye pollutant

A simple one‐pot hydrothermal method was successfully used to synthesize p–n heterojunction Mn3O4/BiVO4 composites with different contents of BiVO4. The experimental results show that the as‐prepared p–n heterojunction Mn3O4/BiVO4 composite exhibited higher visible light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of model dye methylene blue than the pure BiVO4 and Mn3O4 crystal under irradiation of 5 W white LED lamp. The enhanced photocatalytic efficiency is due to a large number of p–n heterojunctions in Mn3O4/BiVO4 composites, which effectively reduces the recombination of the electrons and holes by charge transfer from n‐type BiVO4 to p‐type Mn3O4 crystals. The prepared p–n heterojunction Mn3O4/BiVO4 composite was functionalized with cobalt, zinc, copper, and tin complexes of porphyrin. The energy diagrams of these prepared compounds were calculated via the electrochemical investigations and the electron transfer mechanism was discussed in details. The photocatalytic efficiency of the functionalized nanocomposites enhances significantly compared to the p–n heterojunction Mn3O4/BiVO4 under visible light irradiation. Between the prepared compounds, BiVO4/Mn3O4‐CoTCPP shows higher photocatalytic activity. This compound can destruct 98% of dye pollutant in 180 min under irradiation of 5 W white LED lamp. Furthermore, this photocatalyst shows proper stability after four cycle degradation test. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 1439–1448, 2017

Synthesis of La doped Bi2WO6 nanosheets with high visible light photocatalytic activity

The La3+ doped Bi2WO6 were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal process. Various characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–Vis DRS), FT-IR, photoluminescence (PL) spectra and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm analysis, were employed to investigate the as-prepared products. The results indicate that La3+ replacing Bi3+ enters into the Bi2WO6 lattice, producing a degree of Bi2WO6 lattice distortion. It also has an impact on the crystallinity of Bi2WO6 and the band gap was from 2.64 to 2.79 eV. The photocatalytic results show that when the content of La3+ doping becomes 5%, the degradation rate of Rhodamine B (RhB) was above 98% after 25 min irradiation, This enhancement should be ascribed to the slightly increased band gap and the generated defects by La3+ doping, thus resulting in a much lower recombination rate of the photo-induced electrons and holes.

Bi25VO40 microcube with step surface for visible light photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI): Enhanced activity and ultrasound assisted regeneration

In this study, a kind of bismuth vanadium (Bi25VO40) microcube with step surface was successfully synthesized by a fast and mild hydrothermal method. The reaction time and hydrothermal temperature are the key factors which are accounted for the formation of this unique structure. The as-prepared Bi25VO40 microcube exhibited considerably higher visible light photocatalytic activity compared with the smooth one, revealing that fabrication of Bi25VO40 with step surface was an effective method to improve the photocatalytic activity. The enhanced photocatalytic activity over this Bi25VO40 could be attributed to its enhanced separation efficiency of photo-generated holes and electrons. In addition, the XPS analysis of the Bi25VO40 after photo-reduction showed that most of highly toxic Cr(VI) were reduced into less dangerous Cr(III). The XRD results indicated the reduced Cr(III) existed in the form of Cr2O3 and Cr3O8 on the catalyst surface and occupied the active site, counting for the decreased activity after multiple use. A facile ultrasound treatment facilitated the regeneration of deactivated photocatalyst by removing the adsorbed Cr2O3 and Cr3O8, improving the removal ratio of Cr(VI) over the photocatalyst from 74.0% to 85.6% after four recycling use, which make it applicable for the photocatalytic removal of a typical Cr(VI) pollutant continuously.

Synergistic Effects of Sm and C Co-Doped Mixed Phase Crystalline TiO₂ for Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity.

Mixed phase TiO2 nanoparticles with element doping by Sm and C were prepared via a facile sol-gel procedure. The UV-Vis light-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy analysis showed that the absorption region of co-doped TiO2 was shifted to the visible-light region, which was attributed to incorporation of samarium and carbon into the TiO2 lattice during high-temperature reaction. Samarium effectively decreased the anatase-rutile phase transformation. The grain size can be controlled by Sm doping to achieve a large specific surface area useful for the enhancement of photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activities under visible light irradiation were evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). The degradation rate of MB over the Sm-C co-doped TiO2 sample was the best. Additionally, first-order apparent rate constants increased by about 4.3 times compared to that of commercial Degusssa P25 under the same experimental conditions. Using different types of scavengers, the results indicated that the electrons, holes, and •OH radicals are the main active species for the MB degradation. The high visible-light photocatalytic activity was attributed to low recombination of the photo-generated electrons and holes which originated from the synergistic effect of the co-doped ions and the heterostructure.

Facile fabrication of heterostructured bismuth titanate nanocomposites: The effects of composition and band gap structure on the photocatalytic activity performance

Heterostructured Bi2Ti2O7/Bi4Ti3O12 nanocomposites were successfully synthesized through a facile calcination method. The composition and band gap of the Bi2Ti2O7/Bi4Ti3O12 nanocomposites were controlled by tuning the calcination temperature. The morphology of the Bi2Ti2O7/Bi4Ti3O12 composite changed from worm-like nanosheets to spherical particles when the calcination temperature increased from 500 to 800°C. The structural features of the heterojunction were confirmed using characterization techniques such as XRD, SEM, HRTEM, ESR, and SPV. The Bi2Ti2O7/Bi4Ti3O12 nanocomposite calcined at 600°C had the highest visible light photocatalytic activity, which was almost 2.0 times as high as that of the pure Bi2Ti2O7 for Rhodamine B (RhB) photodegradation, and 2.5 times the rate of 2,4–dichlorophenol (2,4–DCP) removal under simulated sunlight irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is due to the heterojunction interfaces induced by the match of lattice and energy levels between Bi2Ti2O7 and Bi4Ti3O12, which is helpful for the separation and transfer of electron-hole pairs. The photocatalytic mechanism was elucidated via active species trapping experiments and electron spin resonance. The photogenerated holes played a key role in the degradation reaction via the Bi2Ti2O7/Bi4Ti3O12 composites. Finally, a possible charge transfer mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic activity was proposed.

TiO2 nanofibers coated with rGO and Ag2O for promoting visible light photocatalytic performance

Due to the increase in environmental pollution, highly efficient photocatalysts with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity have attracted considerable attention. In this work, TiO2/reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/Ag2O nanoheterostructures (NHs) based photocatalysts are successfully synthesized and a markedly higher visible light photocatalytic activity is achieved, of which at least 96% of Rhodamine B (RhB) molecules are decomposed by the TiO2/rGO/Ag2O NHs after 120 min visible light irradiation, but only 30% of RhB molecules are decomposed by pure TiO2 nanofibers (NFs). Furthermore, the influence of rGO volume ratio in TiO2/rGO/Ag2O NHs photocatalysts on visible light photocatalysis is studied, and the result shows that the sample with 5 vol% rGO exhibits the highest visible light photocatalytic activity. The much enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance of the ternary TiO2/rGO/Ag2O NHs can be ascribed to the intense visible light absorption of Ag2O, the excellent electron conductivity of 2D rGO and the matched energy level of TiO2, Ag2O, and rGO, for efficient boost of the photogenerated charge carriers transfer and separation at the interface of hierarchical TiO2/rGO/Ag2O NHs.

Porous BN/TiO2 hybrid nanosheets as highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalysts

Porous boron nitride (BN) nanosheets, which possess extreme large surface areas, high thermal conductivity and special chemical activities, have demonstrated advantages in water cleaning and energy storage. However, they are usually considered as an underachieving catalytic material for photocatalysis and other photovoltaic conversion applications due to their wide bad gap of 5.5eV. Here, we report a novel porous BN/TiO2 hybrid nanosheets with the formation of new BOTi bondings between the boron dangling bonds at the open edges of pores of porous BN nanosheets and nanosized TiO2 particles. Such highly active bondings make the hybrid nanosheets responsive to an extended wavelength range from UV to visible light (λ>420nm) spectrum and also substantially enhance the photocatalytic effect (up to 99%) for degradation of organic molecules. In addition, the porous BN/TiO2 hybrid nanosheets exhibit excellent cycling stability up to 5 cycles maintaining high visible-light photocatalytic activity (97%). These results provide new insights for design of advanced hybrid photocatalysts with actively chemical bonding species, which can be applied in environmental protection, water splitting, and photo-electrochemical conversion.

Fabrication of ternary reduced graphene oxide/SnS2/ZnFe2O4 composite for high visible-light photocatalytic activity and stability

Metal sulfides are promising photocatalysts for efficient removal of organic pollutants in wastewater. However, the practical application of these catalysts is limited due to the fast recombination of charge carriers and poor catalyst stability. In this study, ternary reduced graphene oxide/SnS2/ZnFe2O4 (rGO/SnS2/ZnFe2O4) composites were synthesized by a hydrothermal process, and rGO content was optimized. The surface morphology, crystal structure, optical and electrochemical properties of rGO/SnS2/ZnFe2O4 composites were characterized. The adsorption capacity and visible-light photocatalytic activity of rGO/SnS2/ZnFe2O4 were influenced by rGO content with results revealing an optimal rGO content of 7wt.%. The 7% rGO/SnS2/ZnFe2O4 composite demonstrated the highest visible-light photocatalytic activity with almost 100% 2-nitrophenol removal, which could be attributed to the efficient charge separation, and the formation of O2−, h+ and a few OH radicals. The possible photocatalytic mechanism of rGO/SnS2/ZnFe2O4 composites was also provided based on the role of rGO and the energy bands of SnS2 and ZnFe2O4. Moreover, rGO/SnS2/ZnFe2O4 composites exhibit excellent reusability without an obvious decline in the photocatalytic activity after four degradation–regeneration cycles. The results indicate that ternary rGO/SnS2/ZnFe2O4 composites have good prospect in practical removal of organic pollutants in wastewater due to high efficiency and excellent stability.

Fabrication of CPAN/Ag/AgCl composites and their efficient visible-light photocatalytic activity

The novel ternary cyclized polyacrylonitrile (CPAN)/Ag/AgCl composites were successfully synthesized by a facile precipitation and photo-assistant reduction method. The CPAN/Ag/AgCl particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) and photocurrent time (EI) measurement. The photocatalytic activities of the samples were investigated through the decomposition of methyl orange (MO) and rhodamine B aqueous solution under visible-light irradiation. The results showed that the CPAN/Ag/AgCl photocatalysts displayed much higher visible-light photocatalytic activity than Ag/AgCl, and the reaction rate constant of the MO degradation catalyzed by CPAN/Ag/AgCl is about 3 times of that by Ag/AgCl. It is proposed that the photogenerated holes h+ and O2− played important roles in the photocatalytic degradation of MO in the presence of CPAN/Ag/AgCl composites under visible light irradiation.

Highly efficient adsorption/photodegradation of organic pollutants using Sn1−0.25xCuxS2 flower-like as a novel photocatalyst

Hierarchical nanostructures Sn1−0.25xCuxS2 flower-like photocatalyst with high visible-light photocatalytic activity and absorption capacity was synthesized via a facile one-pot solvothermal method. The morphology, crystal structure, optical and photocatalytic property of the as-prepared samples were thoroughly investigated by various means. XRD results indicated that Cu ions entered into the crystal lattice of SnS2 without deteriorating the original crystal structure. The adsorbing capacity of obtained Sn1−0.25xCuxS2 photocatalyst was 7.2 times and 2.9 times higher than SnS2 for the removal of organics pollutants, respectively. Furthermore, Sn1−0.25xCuxS2 photocatalytic exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity than the pure SnS2 towards the degradation of RhB and DB under visible light (λ ≥ 420 nm), more than 95% DB and RhB molecules could be eliminated within 2 h. The enhanced adsorption capacity of the Sn1−0.25xCuxS2 for organic pollutants was attributed predominantly to its high specific surface areas and appropriate pore size distribution. Superior photocatalytic activity profited from the large light responded region and efficient separation of photo-generated electron-hole pairs. A possible visible light photocatalytic mechanism of Sn1−0.25xCuxS2 was proposed. Therefore, the Sn1−0.25xCuxS2 flower-like photocatalyst could be a potential applications for water splitting, new fuels synthesis and environmental remediation under natural sunlight.