HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS OF SnO2 NANOPOWDERS AND THEIR PHOTOCATALYTIC PROPERTIES

Nano-sized SnO2 powders were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method without using any surfactant. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and UV-Vis spectrophotometer. To investigate the photocatalytic properties of the samples, Acid Red B was used as simulated dye wastewater. The results indicated that SnO2 possesses tetragonal phase with cell parameters a=b=4.738 Å，c=3.187 Å. The particles of sample are spherical in shape, and the diameter is about 25 nm. The as-synthesized SnO2 powders show excellent photocatalytic activity. When the dosage is 0.4 g/L, UV light is used as irradiation source and reaction time is 120 min, the decolorization rate can reach to 100%.