Phase-controlled synthesis and photocatalytic properties of SnS, SnS2 and SnS/SnS2 heterostructure nanocrystals

Abstract A phase-controlled synthesis of well-defined tin sulphides, including SnS, SnS 2 and SnS/SnS 2 heterostructured materials, was developed by one-step pyrolysis method. Such a phase-controlled process was realized by changing the amount of CS 2 in the precursor, in which pure SnS and SnS 2 flakes were obtained upon no CS 2 involved or CS 2 excessively existed, while SnS/SnS 2 heterostructured material formed by adding a suitable amount of CS 2 to the precursor, following the Ostwald ripening. As-prepared tin sulphides materials showed a wide-range UV–vis absorption (300–800 nm) and excellent photoresponse property; particularly, SnS/SnS 2 heterostructured material showed improved photocatalytic performance on photodegrading organic dyes, compared with that of as-synthesized pure phases of SnS and SnS 2 materials.