Photocatalytic Analysis and Characterization of Zn₂SnO₄ Nanoparticles Synthesized via Hydrothermal Method with Na₂CO₃ Mineralizer

Zinc stannate Zn2SnO4 (ZTO) nanoparticles were synthesized via a hydrothermal process utilizing sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) as a weak basic mineralizer. The samples were hydrothermally treated at 150, 200, and 250oC for 48 h. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns show that the highly-crystalline ZTO nanostructure could be formed in a well-dispersed manner for the 250°C sample at a particle size of less than 50 nm. As determined from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results, ZTO nanoparticles are face-centered cubic single crystals agglomerated together. The Raman spectra results showed that the ZTO nanocrystals have a spinel structure. Furthermore, photocatalytic activity was tested with methylene blue (MB) by UV irradiation. The ZTO synthesized by the 2 M Na2CO3 mineralizer at 250oC demonstrated excellent photocatalytic activity. The ZTO treated three different ways had three distinct UV-Visible absorption curves, which directly influences their corresponding photocatalytic activity.