Improved photodegradation activity of TiO2 via decoration with SnS2 nanoparticles

• TiO2 modified with SnS2 (TiO2/SnS2) was synthesized via the hydrothermal method.
• Components of TiO2 and SnS2 in composite of TiO2/SnS2 exhibit a strong interaction.
• Photodegradation activity of TiO2 has been improved by SnS2 on UV or UV–Vis light.

The particles of TiO2 modified with various amounts of SnS2 nanoparticles (TiO2/SnS2) were synthesized via the hydrothermal method by reacting SnCl4·5H2O with thioacetamide in 5% (vol.) acetic acid aqueous solution in the presence of TiO2. The obtained products were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV–Vis diffuse reflection spectra, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The photodegradation activities of TiO2/SnS2 composites have been investigated by using methyl orange as target in water under the light irradiation of 250–400, 360–600 and 400–600 nm. It was found that the photodegradation activity of TiO2/SnS2 composites depended on the mass ratio of SnS2 and the wavelength of the irradiating light. The composites containing 33% SnS2 exhibited the maximum activity under the light irradiation of 250–400 and 360–600 nm. However, the more SnS2 in the composites, the higher activity appeared under the irradiation of 400–600 nm light. All the results reveal that the composites possess much better activity than the pristine TiO2.

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