Synthesis and Photocatalytic Property of SnO₂/ZnO Nanorod Composites

Abstract

SnO2/ZnO nanorod composite photocatalysts have been successfully fabricated via combining the electrochemical deposition (ECD, for ZnO nanorod) with a simple solvothermal growth (for SnO2 nanoparticle). As was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), SnO2 nanoparticles in a tetragonal phase were attached on the side faces of ZnO nanorods to form the nanocomposites. SEM and TEM images indicated that the diameter and the length of the SnO2/ZnO nanorod composites were 100-300 nm and 2-5 µm, respectively. The effect of ECD potential on the microstructure of ZnO nanorobs was also investigated. The observation of the morphologies showed that the optimum spacing of ZnO nanorods grown on Cu substrates were obtained when ECD potential was −0.8 V at 80• C. The photocatalytic behavior of the SnO2/ZnO nanorod composite photocalysts has been examined by monitoring the photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under UV-radiation exposure. SnO2/ZnO nanorod composites showed higher photocatalytic activity toward photodegradation of RhB than bare ZnO nanorods, which was due to the efficient charge separation at the SnO2/ZnO composite photocatalyst interface.