The photocatalytic performance of the BaSn-based nanoscale materials for the organic pollutants enhanced by Sm (Er) doping

The aim is to synthesize Sm (Er)-doped BaSn based nanoscale materials through a simple hydrothermal process and research the photocatalytic performance of the Sm (Er)-doped BaSn based nanoscale materials for the gentian violet degradation. Sm (Er) doping is an effective strategy for enhancing the photocatalytic activity of the semiconductor photocatalysts for the degradation of the organic pollutants. BaSn based nanorods possess wide band gap energy which limits the photocatalytic application. It is of important significance to research the feasibility of the improved photocatalytic performance of the BaSn based nanorods by doping with Sm (Er). The aim is to synthesize Sm (Er)-doped BaSn based nanoscale materials through a simple hydrothermal process and research the photocatalytic performance of the Sm (Er)-doped BaSn based nanoscale materials for the gentian violet degradation. Sm (Er)-doped BaSn based nanoscale materials with poly-crystalline structure were synthesized through a simple hydrothermal process. The Sm (Er)-doped composites were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, solid diffuse reflectance spectrum, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Sm (Er) doping induces the morphological evolution of the BaSn based nanoscale materials from the nanorods to irregular nanoscale particles. Sm (Er) in the doped BaSn based nanoscale materials exists in the form of the cubic Sm2Sn2O7 and orthorhombic ErF3 phases. The band gap value is decreased with increasing the Sm (Er) dopant contents. Sm (Er)-doped BnSnbased nanoscale materials with the Sm (Er) content of 8wt.% has the lowest band gap and shows the strongest light absorption ability. Comparing with the un-doped BaSn based nanoscale materials, the Sm (Er)-doped BnSnbased nanoscale materials exhibit higher photocatalytic activity for the gentian violet degradation. 8wt.% Sm-doped BnSnbased nanoscale materials show the highest photocatalytic activity for the degradation of the gentian violet. 20 mL gentian violet solution (concentration of 10 mg•L-1) can be totally degraded using 20 mg 8wt.% Sm-doped BnSnbased nanoscale materials under the UV light illumination for 150 min. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the Sm (Er)-doped BnSn based nanoscale materials can be attributed to the decreased band gap, enhanced light absorption ability and decrease of the recombination of the photo-generated electron-hole pairs. The Sm (Er)-doped BnSn based nanoscale materials show enhanced photocatalytic performance towards gentian violet.