Photocatalytic analysis and characterization of Zn₂SnO ₄ nanoparticles synthesized via hydrothermal method with Na ₂CO₃ mineralizer

Zinc stannate Zn₂SnO₄ (ZTO) nanoparticles were synthesized via a hydrothermal process utilizing sodium carbonate (Na ₂CO3) as a weak basic mineralizer. The samples were hydrothermally treated at 150, 200, and 250°C 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 250°C demonstrated excellent photocatalytic activity. The ZTO treated three different ways had three distinct UV-Visible absorption curves, which directly influences their corresponding photocatalytic activity.