Abstract
Driven by the quest for renewable and clean energy sources, researchers all around the globe are seeking solutions to replace non-renewable fossil fuels to meet the ever-increasing energy supply requirements and solve the relevant environmental concerns. In this study, as a promising photocatalyst, silver-doped SnO2 (Ag-SnO2) nanoparticles (NPs) (1%, 2.5%, and 5%) were synthesized without any additives by employing a simple and environmentally friendly modified hydrothermal route. The optical bandgap was found to be 3.15, 3.08, and 3.00 eV for the 1%, 2.5%, and 5% Ag-SnO2, respectively. The surface area was found to be 85, 54, and 53 m(2) g(-1) for the 1%, 2.5%, and 5% Ag-SnO2, respectively. The studies showed the H-2-production rate of the 1% Ag-SnO2 NPs from photocatalytic water splitting was 19.04 mmol g(-1), which was much higher than that of the 2.5% and 5% Ag-SnO2 NPs. Furthermore, all of the as-synthesized Ag-SnO2 NPs could significantly reduce 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP), especially the 5% Ag-SnO2 NPs, which exhibited exceptional performance in its catalytic activity, reducing 4-NP to 4-AP in just 5.5 min. Our report elucidates the efficient photocatalytic and catalytic performance of Ag-SnO2 NPs for hydrogen-evolution and organic-degradation conversion reactions.