Enhanced photocatalytic activity of cubic ZnSn(OH)6 by in-situ partial phase transformation via rapid thermal annealing

J S Kim; N Kumar; U Jung; J Park; Mu Naushad

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138780

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of cubic ZnSn(OH)₆ by in-situ partial phase transformation via rapid thermal annealing

Chemosphere. 2023 Aug:331:138780. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138780. Epub 2023 May 2.

Authors

J S Kim¹, N Kumar², U Jung³, J Park⁴, Mu Naushad⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea.
² Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea. Electronic address: navneetrsh@gmail.com.
³ Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea. Electronic address: qwpoiu1002@hanyang.ac.kr.
⁴ Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea; Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, South Korea. Electronic address: jinsubpark@hanyang.ac.kr.
⁵ Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: mnaushad@ksu.edu.sa.

PMID: 37142101
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138780

Abstract

In this study, a mixed phase ZnSn(OH)₆/ZnSnO₃ photocatalyst was synthesized by calcining ZHS nanostructures via rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process. The composition ratio of ZnSn(OH)₆/ZnSnO₃ was controlled by changing the duration of the RTA process. The obtained mixed-phase photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and physisorption analysis. Results showed that ZnSn(OH)₆/ZnSnO₃ photocatalyst obtained by calcining ZHS at 300 °C for 20 sec displayed the best photocatalytic performance under UVC light illumination. Under optimized reaction conditions, ZHS-20 (0.125 g) demonstrated nearly complete removal (>99%) of MO dye in 150 min. Scavenger study revealed the predominant role of OH^• in photocatalysis. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the ZnSn(OH)₆/ZnSnO₃ composites was mainly ascribed to the photosensitization of ZHS by ZTO and effective electron-hole separation at the ZnSn(OH)₆/ZnSnO₃ heterojunction interface. It is expected that this study will provide new research input for the development of photocatalyst through thermal annealing-induced partial phase transformation.

Keywords: Photocatalyst; Rapid thermal annealing; ZHS; ZHS/ZTO composites; ZTO.

MeSH terms

Light*
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Nanostructures* / chemistry