Surface-decorated SnO nanoflowers with P25 for enhanced visible light photocatalytic degradation of MO

SnO nanosheets decorated with P25 have been synthesized by ultrasonic reaction to form SnO/P25 composites. Photocatalytic properties of the composites for the visible light degradation of MO were evaluated. Results revealed that P25 amounts significantly influenced the morphology, the absorbability of the visible light region, and the photocatalytic properties of samples. SEM results showed that the addition of small amounts of P25 may obtain micro-flower morphology with P25 nanoparticles loaded on the SnO nanosheets. Dense P25/SnO agglomerates with a size of approximately 2–3 μm were acquired by further increasing P25 content. TEM observations indicated that P25 was closely deposited on the SnO nanosheets. SnO/P25 composites had much higher absorption in the visible light zones than that of SnO sample or P25. The photocatalytic activity results indicate that the P25/SnO composites containing tiny P25 possess excellent catalytic activity for MO degradation. The SnO/2% P25 composites exhibited the highest photocatalytic properties, degrading 99.3% of MO for 60 min.