The influence of the additives composition and concentration on the properties of SnOx thin films used in photocatalysis

Abstract The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of different organic additives on the surface properties of SnO x thin films used for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. The films were obtained by anodic oxidation of tin substrate in electrolyte solutions containing green additives based on hydrophobic and hydrophilic maleic anhydride copolymers. The hydrophobic copolymer leads to the formation of thin films with increased specific area which generates a larger interfacial area between the layers and the dye solution. The consequence is an improvement in the photocatalytic efficiency: up to 16% compared to less than 5% for samples electrodeposited without polymer. The hydrophilic copolymer presence in the electrolyte solution leads to higher grain size and lower surface energy which significantly reduce the photocatalytic properties of the layers. The use of copolymers can be a tool for enhancing the surface roughness and film's wettability and thus the photodegradation efficiency.