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Microwave synthesized strontium bismuth niobate Sr 1-x Sn x Bi 1.95 La 0.05 Nb 2 O 9 (SSBLN) materials are investigated for non-Debye conduction and photocatalytic response. Lone electron pair repulsions between doping tin (Sn2+) and layer bismuth (Bi3+) generate optimal lattice strain. Lattice oxygen, that is critical in photocatalytic applications, is observed to fold along a-c plane on introducing tin. SSBLN compositions possess higher porosity with reduced dimensions. Porosity derived capacitive boundaries promote polaronic hopping in SSBLN materials over diffused ionic conduction. The visible spectrum photocatalytic response is better after doping tin in SSBLN compositions. Mesoporous network and electron-hole pair generation play crucial role in augmented photocatalytic behaviour of SSBLN materials. Image 1 • Asymmetric charge density of tin (in +2 form) induces maximum lattice strain in a-b plane. • Tin doping increases porosity as arranges more grains in limited volume. • Polaronic hopping developed due to tin doping converts SSBLN composition into a kinetically slow. • Tin-doped SSBLN shows improved photocatalytic behaviour due to microwave induced porosity and electron-hole pair generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]