Synthesis and characterization of carbon‐doped ZnSn(OH)6 with enhanced photoactivity by hydrothermal method

Well‐dispersed carbon‐doped ZnSn(OH)₆ submicrocubes were successfully synthesized through a facile and economical hydrothermal method at 433K, which used green chemical glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) as the carbon‐doping source. Photocatalytic activity of the as‐synthesized C‐doped ZnSn(OH)₆ was evaluated by studying photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation(≥ 400 nm). The results show that carbon‐doped ZnSn(OH)₆ photocatalysts exhibited higher photocatalytic performance as compared to pure ZnSn(OH)₆. 1.0 wt% C‐doped ZnSn(OH)₆ photocatalyst exhibited obviously higher photocatalytic activity that of pure ZnSn(OH)₆ or other C‐ZnSn(OH)₆ catalysts under the same condition. The enhanced photocatalytic degradation of MB could be attributed to the doping of carbon and the possible mechanism for high photocatalytic activity of C‐doped ZnSn(OH)₆ was discussed.