Preparation and enhanced photocatalytic activity of Ag-nanowires@SnO2 core–shell heterogeneous structures

Ag-nanowires@SnO2 core–shell heterogeneous structures (ANSOs) have been successfully synthesized through a two-step microwave hydrothermal method. First, monodispersed Ag-nanowires were obtained via a simple hydrothermal method. Second, SnO2 shell was wrapped on the Ag nanowires to form a ANSOs through another hydrothermal process, in which the SnCl4·5H2O was used as tin source. The physical and chemical properties of ANSOs were carefully studied by using XRD, SEM, TEM, UV–vis, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared products was evaluated by photocatalytic decolorization of Rhodamine B (Rh B) aqueous solution at room temperature (25 °C) under UV and visible-light irradiation. The measurements of photocatalytic activities show that the ANSOs has a better photocatalytic activity both in UV and visible-light region compared with that of pure SnO2 and P25.