SrSnO₃ nanostructures: Synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic properties

Dumbbell-like and rodlike nanostructures of SrSnO₃ were successfully synthesized by calcination of the corresponding hydrothermally prepared precursors, SrSn(OH)₆, at 1100°C in air. The structure and morphology of the as-synthesized sample were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet - visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and volumetric adsorption method (BET). The photocatalytic activity of the SrSnO₃ products for the H₂ and O₂ evolution was systematically investigated under UV light irradiation. It was found that nanostructured SrSnO₃ photocatalysts with different morphologies possess 10 times more photoactivity than the solid-state reaction sample under UV light irradiation.