Two-dimensional SnS2 nanosheets exfoliated from an inorganic–organic hybrid with enhanced photocatalytic activity towards Cr(vi) reduction†
Abstract
Atomic-scale thin two-dimensional materials have promising application prospects in photocatalysis due to their large reactive sites, short carrier diffusion distances and high charge separation properties. In this paper, SnS2 nanosheets of several atomic layer thickness and with {001} facets dominating are prepared with the liquid-exfoliation method using a SnS2/n-propylamine inorganic–organic hybrid precursor. They become semi-metallic when the thickness is reduced to 30 Å, possess effective charge separation due to a much shorter diffusion length in the [001] direction as evident from the prolonged photoluminescence lifetime, and exhibit largely improved photocatalytic activity for Cr(VI) reduction under visible light irradiation, with a rate constant six-fold larger than that of bulk SnS2.