Efficient solar light-driven hydrogen generation using an Sn₃O₄ nanoflake/graphene nanoheterostructure

Abstract

Herein, we have demonstrated the synthesis of the two-dimensional hierarchical Sn3O4/graphene nanostructure by a facile solvothermal method. The nanostructure has been used as a photocatalyst for hydrogen production under solar light.

Flat-Band Potential Determination and Catalytical Properties of Sn3O4/SnO2 Heterostructures in the Photo-Electrooxidation of Small Organic Molecules under Ultraviolet (370 nm) and Blue (450 nm) Light

“…TO1 and TO4 samples represent Sn3O4 and SnO2 phases with CSR sizes of 27 and 3 nm, respectively. The band-gap values obtained are consistent with the literature for these phases: 2.94 eV for Sn3O4 [10] and 3.98 eV for SnO2 [58]. The specific surface area of the TO4 sample is very low (2.05 m 2 /g), which could be associated with the rigid structure of small-sized SnO2 particles (3 nm).…”

“…For sample TO3, the synthesis procedure was slightly modified in accordance with ref. [10]. An amount of 0.01 mol of tin (II) chloride were dissolved in 75 mL of water with stirring, and 25 mL of 4 M sodium hydroxide solution was slowly added.…”

“…Sn 3 O 4 and composites based on it are promising materials that arouse increased interest in various photo-stimulated and electrochemical processes, including hydrogen production [10][11][12][13][14], water decomposition [15], oxidation of dyes and organic compounds [16][17][18][19][20][21], sensors [22][23][24], lithium and sodium ion batteries [25][26][27][28], supercapacitors [29], solar cells [30], CO 2 reduction [31,32], visible light photodetectors [33], etc. The morphology of Sn 3 O 4 represents a layered structure in which two layers of SnO alternate with a layer of SnO 2 [34].…”

“…Despite this, the main disadvantage for the use of Sn 3 O 4 is that the potential of the valence band is not high enough for photo-oxidation reactions. To increase the efficiency of charge separation, composites of Sn 3 O 4 with electrically conductive materials based on graphene [10,35], graphene oxide [14,32], Ni foam [19], Sn [20] and heterostructures based on C 3 N 4 [17], SnO [36,37], SnO 2 [22,24,[38][39][40] and Si nanowires [41] are being studied intensively. Heterostructures based on high valence band oxidation potential of SnO 2 with an absorbance in the visible region of Sn 3 O 4 can increase the efficiency of photocatalytic reactions.…”

Enhanced sunlight-driven catalysis for hydrogen generation and dye remediation using synergistic p-Co3O4/n-TiO2 nanocomposites

“…Methanol interaction with VB holes generates protons (h + ) and radicals, while CB electrons facilitate h + ion breakdown, resulting in molecular hydrogen formation. 68 The fundamental mechanism of water splitting involves generating electron–hole pairs within semiconductors, followed by their migration to the reaction surface during aqueous methanol reactions.…”