One-step synthesis of butterfly-like SnC2O4 by simple precipitation method and photocatalytic performance

Semiconductor SnC2O4 powders with novel butterfly-like shape were synthesized by the one-step precipitation method. XRD, SEM, UV-vis DRS, PL, BET and FTIR were used to characterize the SnC2O4 samples. The results indicate that the samples obtained at different reaction time are all pure monoclinic phase SnC2O4 with butterfly-like shape. The formation mechanism was proposed on the basis of intrinsic crystal structure and synthesis time. The average band gap is estimated to be 3.33 eV.The PL spectrum suggests that the SnC2O4 samples might have a large number of oxygen vacancies and some other defects. The photocatalytic activity of SnC2O4 was investigated using Acid Red B and Methyl Orange as simulated dye wastewater. For 40 mg/L Acid Red B and MO, the degradation rate can reach to 96.5% and 96.4% under ultraviolet light, respectively. The corresponding reaction kinetics was explored. Furthermore, the degradation mechanism of the dye was explored by introducing the scavengers of active species and comparing with active carbon. The results show that ·OH as well as ⋅O2− play a dominant role of the dye. Recycling test indicates that as-synthesized SnC2O4 was stable in five cycles.