Sunlight-driven photocatalytic activity of SnO2 QDs-g-C3N4 nanolayers

Herein, we reported a sunlight driven photocatalyst, SnO2 quantum dots (QDs)-g-C3N4 nanolayers (NLs) for the abatement of water pollution. SnO2 QDs were prepared in the presence of g-C3N4 NLs and the average crystallite size of SnO2 QDs was achieved below 3 nm. The interactions between both SnO2 QDs and g-C3N4 NLs are strong, as established by differences in binding energies. The sunlight driven photocatalytic activity of SnO2-g-C3N4 composite was carried out by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and it shows 94% degradation under sunlight within 180 min. The improved photocatalytic activity under sunlight is attributed to the synergetic effect of SnO2 QDs and layered g-C3N4. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.