Surfactant Free Hydrothermal Synthesis of Zn2SnO4 Nanoparticles and Their Functional Properties

A simple, low temperature, cost effective, surfactant free and scalable synthesis of technologically important Zn2SnO4 (ZTO) nanoparticles with controllable size and shape has been developed. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) of the synthesized ZTO nanoparticles revealed the formation of highly pure crystalline ZTO phase with the spinel‐like structure. The Raman spectrum of the sample was dominated by the A1g vibration mode of pure ZTO phase. From UV–Vis absorption measurements, a band gap (Eg) of 3.78 eV was determined. The photocatalytic activity of the ZTO nanoparticles was evaluated for the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV‐Vis light irradiation. The ZTO‐assisted photocatalytic degradation of MB is complete in 25 minutes indicating good photocatalytic activity of ZTO. Mass spectrometric (MS) analysis of degradation intermediates isolated at regular time intervals reveals the presence of azure A, azure B and thionin which are demethylated products of the MB, indicating that the degradation is initiated by demethylation of the molecule.