CHARACTERIZATION AND PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF Zn2SnO4 NANOSTRUCTURES SYNTHESIZED VIA HYDROTHERMAL METHOD

Nanosized zinc stannate Zn2SnO4 (ZTO) was synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method using sodium hydroxide NaOH as a mineralizer. Hydrothermally treated at 150, 200, and 250 degrees C for 24 h and 48 h, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern showed that highly crystalline ZTO nanostructures could be formed at 200 and 250 degrees C. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that ZTO nanocubes were formed at 250 degrees C, and a sheet-like structure was found at 200 degrees C. Raman spectra revealed that ZTO had a spinel structure and there were two Raman shift peaks at approximately 668 and 535 cm(-1), which were similar to the peaks of ZTO nanowires. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of the ZTO samples was assessed utilizing methylene blue (MB) under ultraviolet irradiation, and the UV-Visible light absorption spectra was investigated to interpret the relationship between photocatalytic properties and light absorptivity. The sheet-like ZTO nanostructures exhibited better photocatalytic activity due to their excellent light absorption properties.