Temperature-dependent preparation of bismuth pyrostannate Bi2Sn2O7 and its photocatalytic characterization

Abstract Bi 2 Sn 2 O 7 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via a fast microwave-assisted method and high temperature treatment. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis diffuse reectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), total organic carbon (TOC) measurement and Raman spectroscopy. We found that there is an optimal thermal treatment temperature for Bi 2 Sn 2 O 7 for the highest photocatalytic activity in the decomposition of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. We observed an improvement in activity when the thermal treatment temperature increases from room temperature to 500 ∘ C, but the activity decreases when the sintering temperature is increased further. The reason behind the enhanced photocatalytic efficiency is a better separation of the charge carriers which is competitive with the specific surface area, crystallinity and crystal size.