Facile Surfactant-Free synthesis of Pd-Sn1.1Nb2O5.5F0.9@SnO2 Core–Shell Nano-Octahedrons for efficient photocatalytic ethylene oxidation.

[Display omitted] • Ternary core–shell nanostructures were obtained by a facile and surfactant free method. • The resultant Pd-SNOF@SnO 2 shows efficient photoactivity for C 2 H 4 oxidation. • The core–shell structure can obviously improve the charge separation efficiency. A ternary core–shell structure composed of Sn 1.1 Nb 2 O 5.5 F 0.9 (SNOF), Pd nanoparticles, and the SnO 2 was fabricated by a facile one-step process at room temperature. In this structure, the SNOF nano-octahedrons were coated with thin layers of SnO 2 , and Pd nanoparticles were embedded in the SnO 2 matrix. The formation of SnO 2 and Pd nanomaterials was induced by the redox reaction between the reductive Sn2+ ions of the SNOF and the H 2 PdCl 4 solution. During this process, there are no organic species or foreign reducing agents involved. The as-obtained Pd-Sn 1.1 Nb 2 O 5.5 F 0.9 @SnO 2 (Pd-SNOF@SnO 2) nanocomposites showed efficient photoactivities for C 2 H 4 oxidation under simulated sunlight irradiation, which was significantly higher than that of the blank SNOF. The mineral ratio was determined to be ∼ 100%, and the catalyst was stable after five cycles. This result was ascribed to the core–shell structure of SNOF and SnO 2 as well as the embedded Pd nanoparticles functioning as an electron trapping site, which can effectively accept the photo-excited electrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]