Volume 186, 2016

SnxTi1−xO2 solid-solution-nanoparticle embedded mesoporous silica (SBA-15) hybrid as an engineered photocatalyst with enhanced activity

Abstract

Synthesis of hybrids of a porous host-material (with well-dispersed embedded nanoparticles inside the pore), wherein each nanoparticle has precisely controlled properties (size and composition) poses a generic challenge. To this end, a new strategy is proposed to form SnxTi1−xO2 solid-solution-nanoparticles inside the pores of sphere-like mesoporous silica (SBA-15), with different percentages of Sn in the nanoparticle (varying from 5 to 50 at%), for enhanced photocatalysis. X-ray diffraction confirms the formation of solid-solution nanoparticles in the porous silica hybrid, while the location of nanoparticles and elemental composition are identified using electron microscopy. The hybrid with 5 at% of Sn (Sn0.05Ti0.95O2-sphere-like SBA-15) shows the maximum photocatalytic activity for degradation of rhodamine-B dye (first order rate constant for degradation, k = 1.86 h−1), compared to both pure TiO2-sphere-like SBA-15 (k = 1.38 h−1) or pure SnO2-sphere-like SBA-15 (k = 0.14 h−1) or other hybrids in this series. XPS and PL spectra suggest the formation of more oxygen vacancies during the replacement of Ti4+ with Sn4+. Electrochemical studies reveal that there is a reduction of charge transfer resistance from 910 kΩ cm−2 for TiO2-sphere-like SBA-15, to 332 kΩ cm−2 for Sn0.05Ti0.95O2-sphere-like SBA-15. These results imply that the enhancement in photocatalytic performance is as a result of delay in recombination of charge carriers. Therefore, the approach followed in the present work to form solid-solution nanoparticles inside a porous host without causing pore blockage, would be a promising route towards increasing reaction rates in catalytic applications of hybrid materials.

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Eost 2015
Accepted
12 Here 2015
First published
12 Here 2015

Faraday Discuss., 2016,186, 353-370

Author version available

SnxTi1−xO2 solid-solution-nanoparticle embedded mesoporous silica (SBA-15) hybrid as an engineered photocatalyst with enhanced activity

N. R. Srinivasan and R. Bandyopadhyaya, Faraday Discuss., 2016, 186, 353 DOI: 10.1039/C5FD00126A

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