Recent insights into SnO2-based engineered nanoparticles for sustainable H2 generation and remediation of pesticides

Abstract

Due to the ongoing industrial revolution, solar-driven water splitting and pesticide degradation are highly sought to cope with catastrophes such as depleting fossil reservoirs, global warming, and environmental degradation. The development of stable and efficient photocatalysts has been extensively attempted for past several decades. Herein, SnO₂-based nanomaterials (NMs) have been extensively explored due to their higher stability and wide band gap semiconducting properties. Thus, this review summarizes the recent innovations made on SnO₂-based NMs/electrodes/scaffolds for highly efficient photocatalytic water splitting and pesticide degradation based on the type of dopants, their nature, concentration, sensitizers, chemical additives, scavengers, etc., with the corresponding mechanistic aspects. The theoretical aspects of SnO₂-based NMs have also been elaborated. Various trend-setting modifications such as band gap engineering, enhanced charge separation, and electron transfer with various SnO₂-based NMs are discussed in light of the search for real-life photocatalysts.