Fabrication of SnS/TiO₂ NRs/NSs photoelectrode as photoactivator of peroxymonosulfate for organic pollutants elimination

In the study, SnS decorated TiO2 nanorods/nanosheets (SnS/TiO2 NRs/NSs) photoelectrode was successfully fabricated as photoactivator of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for organic pollutants elimination via hydrothermal reaction, followed by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The result of scanning electron microscope suggested that SnS nanoparticles with sizes varying from 20 to 50 nm were uniformly decorated on the surface of TiO2 NRs/NSs to form a nano-heterojunction. Moreover, we also evaluated the catalytic degradation performance of SnS/Ti-2 NRs/NSs photoactivator through PMS activation system for decomposition of rhodamine B (RhB), tartrazine (TTZ), 4-chlorophenol (4-CP), methylene blue (MB), sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), Ibuprofen (IBP), and ciprofloxacin (CIP). Results suggested that SnS/TiO2 NRs/NSs photoelectrode showed higher catalytic degradation efficiency compared with other reaction systems, which was mainly ascribed to intense light response, lower recombination rate of electron-hole pairs and synergistic effect of PMS. Moreover, the possible catalytic degradation mechanism of the constructed catalyst/light/PMS system was proposed and confirmed. Finally, the SnS/TiO2 NRs/NSs/Light/PMS system possessed well reusability and wide adaptability.