Facile Fabrication of F-Doped SnO2 Nanomaterials for Improved Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract

Non-metal doping introduces structural defects, which alter the metal oxide band gap, resulting in high photocatalytic performance. Herein, a F doped SnO2 was synthesized via a simple solvothermal method. Through adjusting the solvothermal time, surfactants and F doping ratio, the optimal sample was prepared. In addition, the as-prepared nano-powder was characterized and analyzed by X-Ray-Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Disperse Spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrum (FT-IR). Interestingly, the results of photocatalytic degradation showed that the degradation rate of rhodamine B (Rh B) reached 92.9% in 25 min after a 5-hour solvent heat treatment with polyethylene glycol (PEG) surfactant and F doping ratio of n(F):n(Sn) = 1:15. Through the study of photocatalytic performance, we found that F-doped SnO2 has high photocatalytic activity during a short time and its development potential in the field of photocatalysis, which provides a strong support for our further study of its practical application.