One-step synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticles-loaded graphitic carbon nitride and their application in thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

Abstract

SnO₂ nanoparticle-loaded graphitic carbon nitride (SnO₂NPs/g-C₃N₄) hybrids were successfully synthesized by one-pot calcination. Various characterization means and detection techniques were used to analyse their structure and properties. It was found that SnO₂ NPs possess the synergistic effect on g-C₃N₄. The addition of SnO₂ NPs not only increases the surface of g-C₃N₄ but provides extra electrons. Having added 10 wt% SnO₂NPs/g-C₃N₄ hybrids, the onset decomposition temperature of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was decreased to 352.2 °C. Furthermore, considering the band gap of g-C₃N₄ (E_g = 2.7 eV) and SnO₂ (E_g = 3.6 eV), the conduction band electrons (e_cb⁻ and valence band holes (h⁺)) were generated on their surface upon heat excitation. In addition, on the basis of the synergistic effect (the e_cb⁻ would transfer from g-C₃N₄ to SnO₂) of SnO₂, a possible synergistic mechanism was proposed to understand the thermal decomposition of AP.