Effective photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B using tin semiconductors over hydrotalcite-type materials under sunlight driven

Abstract

In the current study, SnO2(5, 10 and 15 wt%)/MgAl-HT hydrotalcite-type materials were synthesized by co-precipitation method. Besides, the photocatalytic activity of the materials was evaluated in the degradation of Rhodamine B under simulated sunlight. The characterization of the materials by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, physisorption of nitrogen and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed the formation of the (003) and (110) characteristic plans of lamellar materials, vibrational modes typical of layered double hydroxides and tin, specific surface areas, pore size distribution and chemical composition, respectively. The photocatalytic activity showed that the SnO2(10 %)/MgAl-HT catalyst has the best degradation of the dye reaching a 75 % of degradation after 210 min under simulated solar light irradiation. The route of action of charge carriers was evaluated using scavengers for photogenerated holes, hydroxyl and superoxide radicals, such as triethanolamine, isopropanol and benzoquinone, respectively, when benzoquinone was used it was confirmed that superoxide radicals play an important role in degradation of Rhodamine B.