Hydrothermal Synthesis of Zn₂SnO₄/Few-Layer Boron Nitride Nanosheets Hybrids as a Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalyst

Abstract

Zn₂SnO₄/few-layer boron nitride nanosheets (FBNNS) hybrids were synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method. The structures, morphology, optical properties, electron transformation and separation of the as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electrical microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, respectively. Rhodamine B was used to evaluate the photocatalytic activities of the as-prepared samples under visible light illumination. The photocatalytic mechanism was also explored. Experimental results showed that the degradation efficiency of rhodamine B was firstly increased and then decreased with increasing the usage amount of FBNNS. When it was 9 wt% based on the weight of Zn₂SnO₄, the degradation efficiency of the as-prepared Zn₂SnO₄/FBNNS-9 wt% composites reached to the maximum of 97.5% in 180 min, which was higher than 39.2 % of pure Zn₂SnO₄. Moreover, the holes played mainly active roles in photocatalytic reaction process. In addition, the as-prepared hybrids could enhance the separation efficiency of photoexcited carriers compared to pure Zn₂SnO₄.

Keywords

zinc stannate / boron nitride nanosheets / photocatalysis

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