Nanocrystalline ZnSb2O6: Hydrothermal synthesis, electronic structure and photocatalytic activity

Nanocrystalline ZnSb2O6 with small particles size and large BET specific area (131.4 m2/g) was successfully prepared via a facile hydrothermal method directly from Sb2O5 and was fully characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2-sorption BET surface area, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The as-prepared ZnSb2O6 showed photocatalytic activity for the degradation of typical dyes rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl orange (MO) in the aqueous solution under UV irradiations. The electronic structure of ZnSb2O6 was studied by density functional theory (DFT). The different photocatalytic performance between ZnSb2O6 and Sr2Sb2O7, another ternary antimonate photocatalyst, can be explained in terms of their different electronic structures and different crystal structures.

Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (254 K)Download as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Facile hydrothermal method to nanocrystalline ZnSb2O6 with large surface area.
► Nanocrystalline ZnSb2O6 shows photocatalytic activity for the degradation of dyes.
► ZnSb2O6 and Sr2Sb2O7 show different activity due to different electronic structures.
► Second metal in ternary antinonates influence their electronic structure and activity.