Visible-light photocatalytic degradation pathway of tetracycline hydrochloride with cubic structured ZnO/SnO2 heterojunction nanocatalyst

Abstract

Abstract A cubic structured ZnO SnO2 heterojunction nanocomposite was successfully synthesized through a solvothermal process and its photocatalytic action for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride was studied. The nanocomposite catalysts were investigated using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, Transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmet-Teller, Photoluminescence, N2 physical adsorption, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, the cubic structured ZnO SnO2-5 heterojunction nanocomposite demonstrated the outstanding photo stability after four cycles, providing a facile and operative method for the remediation of persistent organic pollutants in visible light and that might be utilized for the environmental decontamination.