Synergistic effect of photocatalysis and pyrocatalysis of pyroelectric ZnSnO₃ nanoparticles for dye degradation

In this work, the synergistic effect of the pyro-/photo-bi-catalysis of the sol-gel-synthesized ZnSnO₃ nanoparticles is observed to enhance the dye wastewater decomposition ratio. Under the excitation of both the ultraviolet light and 20 °C–65 °C thermal cycles, using ZnSnO₃ as catalyst, the bi-catalytic dye decomposition ratio is up to 98.1%, which is much higher than the photocatalytic decomposition ratio of 76.8% or the pyrocatalytic decomposition ratio of 20.2%. In bi-catalysis, the electrical polarization may promote the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, which is helpful to improve the decomposition ratio of RhB dye wastewater. With these advantages of high dye decomposition ratio, recyclable and high energy utilization efficiency, the pyro-/photo-bi-catalysis of ZnSnO₃ nanoparticles is potential in treatment dye wastewater in future.