Two-solvent method synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticles embedded in SBA-15: Gas-sensing and photocatalytic properties study

•Two-solvent method is firstly used to synthesize SnO2 nanoparticles embedded in mesoporous silica (SBA-15).•The SnO2/SBA-15 nanocomposites show higher response to H2 at lower operating temperature than pure SnO2 nanoparticles.•The SnO2/SBA-15 nanocomposites have higher photodegradation ability toward methylene blue than pure SnO2 nanoparticles.

Different loadings of SnO2 nanoparticles embedded in mesoporous silica (SBA-15) were prepared via a two-solvent method with the ordered hexagonal mesoporous structure of SBA-15 kept. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and N2 adsorption porosimetry were employed to characterize the nanocomposites. Compared with pure SnO2 nanoparticles, the SnO2/SBA-15 nanocomposites show higher response to H2 at lower operating temperature. The photocatalytic activity of as-prepared SnO2/SBA-15 for degradation of methylene blue was investigated under UV light irradiation and the results show that the SnO2/SBA-15 nanocomposites have higher photodegradation ability toward methylene blue than pure SnO2 nanoparticles.

Graphical abstractDifferent loadings of SnO2 nanoparticles embedded in mesoporous silica (sample S1, S2 and S3) show higher response to H2 at lower operating temperature than pure SnO2 nanoparticles.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide