Simple synthesis and characterization of SrSnO3 nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic activity

SrSnO3 nanoparticles with peanut-like morphologies were synthesized by a simple wet chemical reaction. These peanut-shaped SrSnO3 were formed by the fusion of two or more nanoparticles with an average size of 45 nm. The resulting powders were characterized in detail using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Moreover, the photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution from pure water was investigated under UV light irradiation. The peanut-shaped nanoparticles exhibited a much higher photocatalytic activity compared to SrSnO3 powder synthesized by a solid-state reaction. This was attributed to their higher structural order, caused by the formation of a carbonate-free pure phase, as well as their higher surface area resulting from the decrease in the particle size.

► Peanut-shaped SrSnO3 nanoparticles are synthesized by a facile wet chemical reaction. ► Raman results reveal a higher structural order in SnO6 octahedra for nanoparticles. ► The synthesized nanoparticles exhibit much enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution.