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Three-dimensional hierarchical SnO 2 microspheres (∼0.35–1.60 μm) comprised of 5–10 nm SnO 2 nanoparticles are successfully obtained through a facile hydrothermal reaction pathway, which are detailly characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These samples are then used in photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), whose photovoltaic performances are discussed with photocurrent-voltage ( J-V ) curve. And the highest power conversion efficiency of 4.21% is achieved as the result of hierarchical SnO 2 microspheres (200 °C 12 h) film (∼15.9 μm in thick) photoanode, and the corresponding short-circuit current density ( J sc ) is 9.38 mA cm −2 , open-circuit voltage ( V oc ) is 692 mV, and the fill factor (FF) is 0.59, respectively. Based on the time-dependent SnO 2 products, we propose the evolution mechanism of SnO 2 microspheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An easy yet viable hydrothermal reaction is demonstrated to prepare ultra-small Zn 2 SnO 4 nanoparticle with ~4.2 nm decorated reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposites (Zn 2 SnO 4 -RGO). The pure phase Zn 2 SnO 4 nanoparticles with ~4.2 nm can be achieved during hydrothermal reaction, meanwhile, these nanoparticles uniformly dispersed on 2D graphene sheet, and graphene oxide was reduced. The photocatalytic performances of the as-prepared Zn 2 SnO 4 -RGO nanocomposites with different RGO mass ratio are investigated. The optimum synergetic effect is found when the RGO mass ratio is 7.11%, with the photocurrent and photodegradation efficiency improved by about 300% and 80% on methylene blue (MB), respectively, compared with the pure Zn 2 SnO 4 nanoparticles. Image 1 • Nano-Zn 2 SnO 4 /Reduced Graphene Oxide Composites were successfully fabricated via an easy yet viable hydrothermal reaction. • The optimum synergetic effect is found at a RGO mass ratio of 7.11%. • The photocurrent response and photodegradation efficiency of Zn 2 SnO 4 -RGO composites were superior to that of pure Zn 2 SnO 4. • The photoelectric and photocatalytic properties of Zn 2 SnO 4 -RGO composites with different amounts of RGO were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]