Low temperature synthesis of SnSr(OH)(6) nanoflowers and photocatalytic performance for organic pollutants

A simple low temperature hydrothermal route has been used for the synthesis of strontium tin hydroxide (SrSn(OH)(6)) nanoflowers. The synthesized SrSn(OH)(6) nanoflowers were investigated by means of powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and solid ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The SrSn(OH)(6) nanoflowers are composed of nanorods with hexagonal structure, length and diameter of about 2 mu m and 30-100 nm, respectively. The growth process of the SrSn(OH)(6) nanoflowers is proposed as the Ostwald ripening and crystal splitting process based on the morphological evolution from different hydrothermal conditions. The band gap of the nanoflowers is 3.53 eV. The SrSn(OH)(6) nanoflowers were utilized for the photocatalytic degradation of gentian violet under ultraviolet light irradiation. The roles of various factors including irradiation time and nanoflower dosage on the photocatalytic activity of the SrSn(OH)(6) nanoflowers are discussed. The possible photocatalytic mechanism for gentian violet degradation using the SrSn(OH)(6) nanoflowers was determined by radical trapping experiments. The SrSn(OH)(6) nanoflowers possess good stability and are an efficient photocatalyst for the removal of organic pollutants.