Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue by Zn2SnO4-SnO2 system under UV visible radiation

Zn2SnO4-SnO2 system was successfully synthesized by co-precipitation under ultrasonic radiation combined with high temperature calcination. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy revealed the presence of cubic particles mixed with nanoparticles of Zn2SnO4-SnO2 composites which were synthesized from Zn:Sn molar ratios of 1:1 and 3:2. Upon using Zn:Sn molar ratios of 3:1 and 2:1, additional ZnO minor phase was detected. In addition, the calculated pseudo-first-order rate constant of the product synthesized from 3:2 molar ratio of Zn:Sn was the highest at 12.244×10-3 min-1.