Improved photodegradation activity of TiO2 via decoration with SnS2 nanoparticles

The particles of TiO₂ modified with various amounts of SnS₂ nanoparticles (TiO₂/SnS₂) were synthesized via the hydrothermal method by reacting SnCl₄·5H₂O with thioacetamide in 5% (vol.) acetic acid aqueous solution in the presence of TiO₂. The obtained products were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV–Vis diffuse reflection spectra, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The photodegradation activities of TiO₂/SnS₂ composites have been investigated by using methyl orange as target in water under the light irradiation of 250–400, 360–600 and 400–600 nm. It was found that the photodegradation activity of TiO₂/SnS₂ composites depended on the mass ratio of SnS₂ and the wavelength of the irradiating light. The composites containing 33% SnS₂ exhibited the maximum activity under the light irradiation of 250–400 and 360–600 nm. However, the more SnS₂ in the composites, the higher activity appeared under the irradiation of 400–600 nm light. All the results reveal that the composites possess much better activity than the pristine TiO_2.