V-shaped tin oxide nanostructures featuring a broad photocurrent signal: An effective visible-light-driven photocatalyst

The growth-direction-selective synthesis of soluble tin oxide (SnO 2) nanorods and bipods with small diameters based on the oleylamine-assited hydrolysis of tin alkoxide in the presence of oleic acid was reported. Measurements of the photocurrent action spectras were performed in a home-built PEC (photochemical properties), in order to examine the PEC properties of SnO2 nanomaterials. Mott-Schottky (MS) measurements were performed in darkness by using the impedance technique, to understand the difference in electronic properties. The SnO2) biped electrode showed a large negative shift of the conduction band. The broad photocurrent feature of SnO2) bipods suggested light conversion efficiency due to the effective utilization of visible light. The photocurrent action spectra, Mott-Schottky plots, and the PL emission spectra revealed that every SnO 2 electrode had unique photoelectrochemical properties.