Polyoxometalate enhances the photocatalytic performance of polyaniline/SnO2 composites

Polyoxometalate-doped polyaniline/SnO 2 (polyoxometalate=H 4 SiW 12 O 40 , abbreviated as SiW 12 , polyaniline , abbreviated as PANI) nanosphere composites were obtained by a two-step synthesis using SnO 2 as template. The structure and properties of the products were characterized. Results revealed that SiW 12 concentration significantly controlled the covered state and dispersion of resultant ternary nanocomposites. Using ethanol solvent instead of water with SiW 12 also promoted aniline polymerization on the SnO 2 surface. The composites exhibited enhanced dispersion, coverage, and photocatalytic performance for Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation. Moreover, the mass ratio of SiW 12 :aniline:SnO 2 was ca. 6:1:1, indicating enhanced photocatalytic activity compared with that of the monocomponent SnO 2 or HCl-doped PANI/SnO 2 composites.