Visible light photocatalytic performance of laser-modified TiO2/SnO2 powders decorated with SiC nanocrystals

In this work, silicon carbide nanocrystals (SiC NCs) were prepared via ultrasonic vibration treatment on the electrochemical etched SiC target. TiO2/SnO2 powders were pulsed-laser ablated in deionized water with different duration. Then, the SiC NCs were coupled with the laser modified powders, forming the SiC-TiO2/SnO2 nanocomposites. As-prepared nanocomposites exhibit extended light absorption to the visible range. The abilities for photocatalytic degradation of the heterostructured catalysts were greatly enhanced in comparison with the pristine and the ablated TiO2/SnO2 powders. It was ascribed to the heterojunction structure between SiC NCs and TiO2/SnO2, which reduces the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes.