Morphologically Divergent Development of SnS Photocatalysts from Under-Utilized Ionic Precursors of SILAR Process

Abstract

Successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) process has been diversely used for deposition of various metal chalcogenides. SnS is one of them. Owing to the under-utilization of ionic precursor used in SILAR process, recovery of ionic species from solvents is important and critical before disposal. Since a variety of solutes and solvents can be used for the deposition of SnS, we have devised a comparison revealing the diversity of SnS. It is revealed that the residual cationic precursors play an important role in deciding the eventual morphology, purity and thus the photocatalytic performance of nanostructured SnS. We directly compared SnS nanostructures salvaged from ionic precursors of SnSO4 and SnCl2 under similar salvaging conditions and ensued that flower-like SnS can be obtained successfully. Intensive scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy were utilized to have a closer check on the evolution of morphological and compositional characteristics. Rhodamine B and methylene blue dyes were successfully degraded by both types SnS, however SnS@SnCl2 exhibited superior performance which was credited to its unique flower-like morphology. Significantly, similar to 96.3% removal of methylene blue dye from water was achieved in only 40 min.