Facile one-pot preparation of α-SnWO4/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposite with improved visible light photocatalytic activity and anode performance for Li-ion batteries

Abstract

α-SnWO₄/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposite was prepared via a facile one-pot hydrothermal reaction between GO, SnCl₂·2H₂O and (NH₄)₅H₅[H₂(WO₄)₆]·H₂O. A simultaneous reduction of GO to RGO and the formation of nanocrystalline α-SnWO₄ on RGO was achieved without using any extra reducing agent. The as-prepared α-SnWO₄/RGO nanocomposite was fully characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and N₂-sorption BET surface area. The photocatalytic performance of the sample was investigated by the decomposition of Methyl Orange (MO) under visible light irradiation. The electrochemical properties of α-SnWO₄/RGO and α-SnWO₄ as anode materials were revealed for the first time. α-SnWO₄/RGO nanocomposite showed improved photocatalytic activity and enhanced anode performance for Li-ion batteries as compared to pure α-SnWO₄.