Hydroxide ZnSn(OH)6: A promising new photocatalyst for benzene degradation

Cube-shaped hydroxide ZnSn(OH)6 (ZHS) has been synthesized by a solvothermal process. The obtained sample was 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 Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Compared with commercial TiO2 (Degussa P25), the as-prepared ZHS showed much higher conversion and mineralization of benzene under 254 nm UV irradiation, and no obvious deactivation was observed during the prolonged operation of 50 h. The reasons for the high activity and long-term stability of ZHS will be discussed in terms of the population and the regeneration of surface OH groups.