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It is still a challenge to develop a high performance photocatalyst for the abatement of aromatic compounds like benzene (C6H6) that has been regarded as a priority hazardous VOC substance in the indoor atmosphere. Zinc hydroxystannate (ZnSn(OH)6, ZHS) is a promising material for the application. However, the key structural features which responsible for the high activity are still ambiguous. To address this issue, a series of ZHS with different surface properties was hydrothermally synthesized by varying the treatment temperature and the solution pH. Although ZHS can be readily synthesized under a mild reaction condition (Tem. 90-120 o C, pH 4-10), most of the samples were contaminated by trace amount of low-crystalized SnO2. Pristine ZHS can only be produced in a strong alkaline solution (pH 13). The sample prepared at 120 o C in a pH 10 solution shows the highest activity for the degradation of gaseous C6H6 and the efficiency almost six times higher than P25 (TiO2). More importantly, no obvious deactivation of the sample and the formation of stable deposits were observed in a long-term reaction for 48 h.Although SnO2 amount is quite small and bare ZHS shows almost no activity, both of them are indispensable for the degradation of C6H6. SnO2 and ZHS can be understood as photoactive sites to produce charge carriers and preferential sites for the adsorption of O2, H2O, and C6H6, respectively. A synergistic effect between SnO2 and ZHS in the formation of active radicals and the degradation of C6H6 accounts for the high performance of the SnO2 decorated ZHS.

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