Facile synthesis of ultrathin SnNb2O6 nanosheets towards improved visible-light photocatalytic H2-production activity

Abstract

Ultrathin SnNb₂O₆ nanosheets with a thickness of ∼3 nm were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route using ultrathin K₄Nb₆O₁₇ nanosheets as the precursor. This ultrathin nanosheets with a large specific surface area of 71.1 m² g⁻¹ showed improved visible-light photocatalytic H₂-production activity in lactic acid aqueous solution, which is about 4 and 14 times higher than that of 50 nm-thick SnNb₂O₆ nanosheets and bulk SnNb₂O₆ powders, respectively. The higher activity of ultrathin nanosheets was mainly attributed to their larger specific surface area and much better charge transfer efficiency.