Aerogels have shown applications in a variety of fields ranging from chemical sensors to capacitors. The intrinsic properties of aerogel materials such as high surface area and small primary particle size make them ideal for heterogeneous catalysis. Zinc oxide and tin (IV) oxide have been studied as potential photocatalyst for the degradation of organic pollutants in aqueous environments. Composite aerogel materials composed of homogenously integrated ZnO and SnO2 nanoparticles were prepared using the epoxide driven sol-gel process. This method uses cheap, stable, and easy to obtain metal halides or nitrates and an epoxide for gel polymerization. The effect of modifying the composition and morphology were systematically studied to produce highly active photocatalysis for the degradation of organic dyes in aqueous solutions. The end result is an efficient catalyst has been created that has the potential to be used in environmental remediation and water purification.

ZnO-SnO<sub>2</sub> aerogels for photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B

247th National Meeting (2014)

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ZnO-SnO2 aerogels for photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B

ZnO-SnO₂ aerogels for photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B