High photocatalytic performance of zinc hydroxystannate toward benzene and methyl orange

Two facile and green methods without any templates, catalysts, surfactants or organic solvents were applied to synthesize ZnSn(OH)6 nanoparticles, i.e. homogeneous precipitation (HP) and hydrothermal (HT). The photocatalytic activities were evaluated on the degradation of organic pollutants under ultraviolet light illumination. Compared to commercial P25, the photoactivity of ZnSn(OH)6 was remarkably improved. The conversion and mineralization ratio of the photocatalytic degradation of benzene by the ZnSn(OH)6-HP were up to 75% and 68%, which is about 20 and 2 times higher than that of P25. The ZnSn(OH)6 has also exhibited high performance toward other persistent organic compounds as well as methyl orange in suspended solution. The order of photodegradation efficiencies of different catalysts was ZnSn(OH)6-HP > P25 > ZnSn(OH)6-HT. Based on the characterization results and the detection of active species, the possible mechanism of the high photocatalytic activity of ZnSn(OH)6-HP was discussed. The simplified synthesis of zinc hydroxystannate with outstanding activity could be promisingly used in the future photocatalytic application.

Graphical abstractA photocatalyst ZnSn(OH)6 with remarkable photocatalytic activity has been synthesized by means of two facile and green routes which were homogeneous precipitation (ZnSn(OH)6-HP) and hydrothermal method (ZnSn(OH)6-HT), without any templates, catalysts, surfactants or organic solvents. The results demonstrated that, compared with commercial P25-TiO2, the photoactivity of ZnSn(OH)6 was remarkably improved. Especially on the ZnSn(OH)6-HP, the conversion ratio and mineralization ratio in the photocatalytic degradation of benzene were up to 75% and 68%, which is about 20 times and 2 times higher than that of P25, respectively. Furthermore, the catalyst also presented notably high photocatalytic activities toward cyclohexane, acetone and methyl orange under UV light irradiation. Hence, this improve the photocatalyst ZnSn(OH)6 was very important to the environmental remedy application in practice.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Two facile solution method can synthesize the ZnSn(OH)6 nanoparticles. ► Attention to its remarkable photocatalytic activity for benzene and methyl orange. ► The catalyst also performs high activity on other volatile organic compounds. ► This new photocatalyst would be widely applied to environmental remedy in the future.