A promising new photocatalyst CdSnO3·3H2O for air purification under ambient condition

A new binary metal hydrate photocatalyst CdSnO3·3H2O was synthesized from Cd(CH3COO)2 and SnCl4·5H2O via a facile homogenous precipitation method. The photocatalytic activities of samples were evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in O2 gas stream under ultraviolet light irradiation. The results demonstrated that the typical CdSnO3·3H2O sample had an average particle size of about 16 nm, a band gap of 4.4 eV, and a specific surface area of 91.8 m2 g−1. The comparison of CdSnO3·3H2O synthesized at different pH values showed that the photocatalytic activities of CdSnO3·3H2O synthesized at pH 7 and 8 were higher than that of the samples synthesized at pH 6 and 9. Contrast to commercial P25-TiO2, the activity of this new photocatalyst was better. The conversion ratio of benzene was about 45% and 5%, corresponding to the mineralization ratio was about 60% and 25%, respectively. CdSnO3·3H2O also exhibited high photocatalytic activities towards cyclohexane and acetone. Then, the mechanism of the reaction on the new photocatalyst was discussed. Hence, the facile synthesis of this photocatalyst and its outstanding photocatalytic performance for VOCs are favorable to its potential application in the environmental remedy field.

Graphical abstractA promising new photocatalyst CdSnO3·3H2O with remarkable photocatalytic performance have been synthesized by means of a facile homogenous precipitation method. The results demonstrated that, the conversion ratio and mineralization ratio in the photocatalytic degradation of benzene were up to 45% and 60%. This catalyst also presented notably high photocatalytic activities toward cyclohexane and acetone under UV light irradiation. The conversion of cyclohexane on CdSnO3·3H2O was relatively reduced to 15%, but the mineralization of cyclohexane on CdSnO3·3H2O was high up to 75%. As to acetone, the conversion over CdSnO3·3H2O was about 25%, and the mineralization was about 58%. Hence, the high photocatalytic performance of the new photocatalyst CdSnO3·3H2O was very important for practical environmental remedial application.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► CdSnO3·3H2O cubes were synthesized by a facile homogenous precipitation. ► Attention to its remarkable photocatalytic activity for benzene. ► The catalyst also performs high mineralization of cyclohexane and acetone. ► It was possible for the environmental remedy application of the behind.