New SnS2/La2Ti2O7 heterojunction photocatalyst with enhanced visible-light activity

• Published in: Materials letters 2015-07, Vol.150, p.44-47
• Main Authors: Chen, Jun, Liu, Shuangzhi, Zhang, Li, Chen, Na
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Functional; Heterojunctions; Irradiation; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Nanostructure; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Powder technology; Reduction; Reflectance; Semiconductors
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2015.02.134

This work took the initiative to study the synthesis and photocatalytic properties of a new visible-light-active SnS2/La2Ti2O7 heterojunction photocatalyst. SnS2/La2Ti2O7 nanoheterojunctions were synthesized via hydrothermal treatment of SnCl4·5H2O, thioacetamide and La2Ti2O7 nanosheets in deionized water at 130°C for 6h. The structure, composition, and optical property of the as-synthesized SnS2/La2Ti2O7 nanoheterojunctions were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra. The photocatalytic activity of the as-synthesized SnS2/La2Ti2O7 nanoheterojunctions was tested in the reduction of aqueous Cr(VI) under visible-light (λ>420nm) irradiation, and compared with those of SnS2 nanoparticles and La2Ti2O7 nanosheets. It was observed that SnS2/La2Ti2O7 nanoheterojunctions exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity than SnS2 nanoparticles, whereas La2Ti2O7 nanosheets exhibited no photocatalytic activity in the reduction of aqueous Cr(VI) under visible-light (λ>420nm) irradiation. The reasons accounting for the photocatalytic results were also proposed. •Initiative study of the synthesis and properties of SnS2/La2Ti2O7 composite.•SnS2/La2Ti2O7 nanoheterojunctions were synthesized by an in situ chemical method.•Higher visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity than SnS2 and La2Ti2O7.