Solvothermal preparation of Sn4+ doped anatase TiO2 nanocrystals from peroxo-metal-complex and their photocatalytic activity

The Sn4+ doped anatase TiO2 nanocrystals with various amounts of dopant Sn4+ ions were prepared from peroxo-metal-complex precursor by solvothermal method and characterized by XRD, TEM, HRTEM, XPS, ICP-AES and UV–vis spectrophotometer. The experimental results indicated that the dopant Sn4+ substituted Ti4+ in the lattice of TiO2, which reflected in the lattice expansion in both a- and c-direction and change of the binding energy. All the Sn4+ doped TiO2 nanocrystal samples appeared to be anatase evenly with dopant level up to 10 mol%. The effect of dopant Sn4+ ions and reaction solvents on physicochemical properties of the obtained Sn4+ doped anatase TiO2 nanocrystals had been discussed. In addition, the growth mechanism and microstructure evolution of Sn4+ doped anatase TiO2 nanocrystals had been suggested. The photocatalytic activity of the Sn4+ doped anatase TiO2 nanocrystals was tested by the degradation of phenol. Compared with the undoped TiO2 sample, the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the Sn4+ doped anatase TiO2 nanocrystals could be attributed to modification of the optical properties and surface state by doping the optimum concentration of Sn4+ ions.

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► Sn4+ doped anatase TiO2 nanocrystal with dopant level up to 10 mol% was prepared.
► Interaction between [M(OH4)(OH2)2]0 unite and reaction solvents determines the crystalline phase.
► Increase in band gap is caused by Sn4+ ions modify anatase electronic structure.