Binary Zn-Doped SnO2/Al2O3 Nanotube Composites for Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Basic Blue 41

Abstract

Binary Zn-doped SnO2/Al2O3 nanotube (NT) composites were synthesized for visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of Basic Blue 41 (BB41) through an environmentally friendly and low-cost liquid phase deposition (LPD) process. The results indicated that Zn-doping with SnO2 nanotubes and coupling with alumina membranes could improve the photocatalytic degradation efficiency under present conditions. In this research, the synthesized Zn-doped SnO2/Al2O3 NT composites demonstrated higher photocatalytic activity than that of alumina membranes, SnO2 NTs, Zn:SnO2 NTs, and SnO2/Al2O3 NT composites. This result can be attributed to the large specific area, wide visible-light absorption range, the band gap narrowed by Zn-doping, and efficient electron−hole separation properties of Zndoped SnO2/Al2O3 NT composites. On the basis of the results, the synthesized binary nanocomposites possess a great potential for use in the degradation of BB41 dye under visible-light irradiation and meet the requirements for future industrial pollution cleanup operations.