Synthesis of SnS/few layer boron nitride nanosheets composites as a novel material for visible-light-driven photocatalysis.

SnS/few layer boron nitride nanosheets composites were synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electrical microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, photoluminescence emission spectra and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, respectively. Rhodamine B was adopted to evaluate the degradation efficiency of the as-prepared samples under visible light irradiation. Experimental results showed that, compared to pure SnS, the few layer boron nitride nanosheets could improve photocatalytic activities of the samples for the degradation of Rhodamine B. With increasing the usage amount of the few layer boron nitride nanosheets, the degradation efficiency was first increased and then decreased. When the usage amount of the few layer boron nitride nanosheets was 10 wt%, it exhibited the highest degradation efficiency of 93.7% in 210 min, which was higher than 50% of pure SnS. After it was recycled for four times, it still possessed 88.7% of degradation efficiency. This was increased by 1008.7% than pure SnS. Moreover, it had band gap energy of 1.78 eV, obviously smaller than 2.06 eV of pure SnS. In addition, a possible photocatalytic mechanism was also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]