Abstract
A series of SnO2 nanocrystallines decorated g-C3N4 architectures were synthesized using a facile solvothermal method. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the as-prepared nanocomposites were characterized in detail, indicating that SnO2 nanocrystallines with diameter ∼ 4 nm were well-dispersed on the surface of g-C3N4. The photocatalytic activity of the composites was investigated by degrading rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The CNS2 heterostructure exhibits enhanced photocatalytic activity than bare SnO2 and g-C3N4. Kinetic study revealed a promising degradation rate constant of 0.0593 min−1 for the CNS2, which is 118 and 7 times higher than that of pure SnO2 and g-C3N4, respectively. What’s more, the CNS2 still retained the photocatalytic activity after three cycle measurements. The enhanced photocatalytic performances of the nanocomposite may be due to its large surface area (116.2 m2/g), appropriate ratio of SnO2/g-C3N4 and the compact structure of the junction between the SnO2 nanocrystallines and the g-C3N4, which inhibits the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes.