Complex SnO2 nanoparticles and nanosheets with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

Highlights: • The complex SnO₂ nanoparticles and nanosheets have grown by a hydrothermal method. • The concentration of urea can control the morphology of SnO₂ nanostructures. • The complex SnO₂ nanoparticles and nanosheets exhibit high photocatalytic activity. • The novel structures exhibit higher photodegradation than ZnO and TiO₂ nanopowders. - Abstract: The complex SnO₂ nanoparticles and nanosheets have been synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. The concentrations of urea play an important role to control the morphology of SnO₂ nanostructures. The complex SnO₂ nanoparticles and nanosheets have excellent photocatalytic activity, which are ascribed to stronger defect emission, higher light harvesting ability in the visible light region, and higher surface-to-volume ratio, which exhibit a much better photocatalytic activity rather than commercial ZnO and TiO₂ nanopowders under a blue light LED irradiation. The complex SnO₂ nanoparticles and nanosheets provide a facile, low cost, high surface-to-volume ratio, high efficiency and stability visible-light-driven photocatalysts for environmental remediation and energy conversion.