Abstract
In this study, ZnSn(OH)6 nanocubes were synthesized by chemical bath method, which is low cost process and suited for mass production. In order to improve photocatalytic activity, gold nanoparticles were grown on the surface of the ZnSn(OH)6 nanocubes by deposition-precipitation method to obtain Au/ZnSn(OH)6 heterojunction nanocubes. Subsequently, the Au/ZnSn(OH)6 nanocubes, photocatalytic activity was enhanced by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect under ultraviolet (UV) and visible-light irradiation. Zinc acetate and sodium stannate source materials were acted as a solute solutions while deionized water and ethylene glycol were used as solvent to prepare ZnSn(OH)6 nanocubes at room temperature. The photodegradation ratio can be reached 100% within 20 min under ultraviolet-light illumination using ZnSn(OH)6 nanocubes. The ZnSn(OH)6 nanocubes achieved about five times cycling test without an observable loss of photocatalytic activity, which indicated the high stability in the reaction medium. Moreover, the Rhodamine B (RhB) aqueous solution (10 ppm) was fully decomposed in 120 minutes by the Au/ZnSn(OH)6 nanocubes because of SPR effect. The highly photocatalytic activity of the Au/ZnSn(OH)6 and the ZnSn(OH)6 nanocubes is attributed to the hydroxyl groups, which enhance the reaction rate and enable the hydroxyl radicals to participate in the reaction for destruction of the RhB solution.