Size-tunable hydrothermal synthesis of SnS2 nanocrystals with high performance in visible light-driven photocatalytic reduction of aqueous Cr(VI).

SnS(2) nanocrystals with adjustable sizes were synthesized via a hydrothermal method from the aqueous solution of common and inexpensive SnCl(4)·5H(2)O, thioacetamide and citric acid, simply by varying the reaction temperature and reaction time. The structures, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface areas and optical properties of the resultant SnS(2) nanocrystals were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, N(2) adsorption/desorption isotherms, and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra. Besides, their photocatalytic properties were tested for the reduction of aqueous Cr(VI) under visible light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation. It was found that the photocatalytic activities of SnS(2) nanocrystals in aqueous suspension depended on their synthesis conditions. The product synthesized under suitable hydrothermal conditions (for example, at 150 °C for 12 h) not only showed high visible light-driven photocatalytic activity in the reduction of aqueous Cr(VI), but also showed good photocatalytic stability. Our photocatalytic results suggested that SnS(2) nanocrystals are a promising photocatalyst in the efficient utilization of solar energy for the treatment of Cr(VI)-containing wastewater.