Hydrothermal synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic properties of Zn2SnO4 nanocrystal

Spinel zinc stannate (Zn2SnO4) samples were prepared one-step by a hydrothermal process at 200 °C for 24 h. The crystal structure of the samples was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The specific surface areas of the nanocrystal powders were measured by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method with a gas adsorption analyzer. The crystal morphology and particle size were analyzed using a transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that the product is polycrystalline Zn2SnO4, and the average specific surface area of nanocrystal powder is about 62 m2/g, the particles have mono-dispersive cubic shape and the grain size is about 20 nm. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of the samples was appraised by means of the liquid phase photocatalytic degradation of various water-soluble dyes (K-NR, B-RN and B-GFF) under UV and visible light irradiation. The effects of catalyst loading and reacting time on the photocatalytic activity were also investigated. The results show that Zn2SnO4 can photocatalytically decompose dyes in water solution after 2 h irradiation and the degradation can reach about 100%.