Synthesis and investigation of photocatalytic properties of CaSnO₃/Ag nanoparticles

Environmental crises, including polluted waters and the emission of greenhouse gases, have been major problems for societies in recent years. As a result, the need for innovative purification systems has become one of the main research fields in recent years. Photocatalysts are recognized as one of the prominent methods for the removal and degradation of pollutants. These techniques are particularly effective in reducing organic pollutants in wastewater. In the present study, a CaSnO₃/Ag photocatalytic system was synthesized using the hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were employed to identify the produced photocatalytic system. The Williamson-Hall method was used to measure the crystallite size and lattice strain. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized material was investigated using the degradation of the organic dye methyl orange. The results of XRD analysis indicated the formation of two phases: calcium stannate with a perovskite structure and silver with a cubic crystal structure. The particle size distribution of the produced particles was uniform, with most particles ranging between 100 to 250 nanometers. The particles precipitated in the hydrothermal container had a spherical shape. The photocatalytic degradation of calcium stannate samples increased after combining with silver. The kinetic rate constant obtained for the degradation of methyl orange for pure calcium stannate and the composite sample was 0.004 and 0.007, respectively.