Photochemical construction of free-standing Sn-filled SnO2 nanotube array on a solution surface for flexible use in photocatalysis

Hongjuan Wang; Fengqiang Sun; Yu Zhang; Kaiyuan Gu; Wei Chen; Weishan Li

doi:10.1039/C1JM10887E

Photochemical construction of free-standing Sn-filled SnO₂nanotube array on a solution surface for flexible use in photocatalysis†

Hongjuan Wang,^ab Fengqiang Sun,*^acd Yu Zhang,^a Kaiyuan Gu,^a Wei Chen^a and Weishan Li^acd

* Corresponding authors

^a School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
E-mail: fqsun@scnu.edu.cn
Fax: +86-20-39310187
Tel: +86-20-39310187

^b Analytical and Testing Center, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China

^c Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Technology on Energy Storage and Power Generation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China

^d Engineering Research Center of Materials and Technology for Electrochemical Energy Storage (Ministry of Education), South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China

Abstract

For the first time, a free-standing Sn-filled SnO₂ nanotube array has been fabricated at the air–water interface by a one-step photochemical route at room temperature. SnSO₄, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and diluted H₂SO₄ aqueous solution were used as precursors. Under ultraviolet irradiation, a dense SnO₂ film first formed and covered the entire surface of the solution, resulting in an anoxic environment in the solution. The film can directly act as a kind of substrate, without the need for an additional solid substrate. The subsequent photochemical reactions would induce production of Sn tetragonal prisms on the film under the assistance of SLS in anoxic conditions. Simultaneously, the Sn⁴⁺, also derived from the photochemical reactions, hydrolyzes into SnO₂ surrounding the tin prism to form the tube wall with a rectangular cross-section. Such nanotube arrays can be used as an effective photocatalyst for degrading methyl orange. Because of its free-standing ability, the nanotube array can be floated on solution surfaces, transferred on any desired substrate, or dispersed in solutions according to practical applications. This route is green, simple, and reproducible, generates high yields and can be extended to prepare other free-standing doped semiconductor micro/nano-structured arrays.

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Article information

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C1JM10887E
Article type: Paper
Submitted: 01 Mar 2011
Accepted: 26 May 2011
First published: 15 Jul 2011

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J. Mater. Chem., 2011,21, 12407-12413

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Photochemical construction of free-standing Sn-filled SnO₂ nanotube array on a solution surface for flexible use in photocatalysis

H. Wang, F. Sun, Y. Zhang, K. Gu, W. Chen and W. Li, J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 12407 DOI: 10.1039/C1JM10887E

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