Catalytic decontamination of organic/inorganic pollutants in water and green H₂ generation using nanoporous SnS₂ micro-flower structured film

Recycling water and generation of H₂ simultaneously as a green technology can be a key attraction in establishing environmental sustainability. Towards this endeavor, nanoporous SnS₂ film electrodes deposited by a solution process on nickel foam demonstrate a promising electrocatalytic activity towards generation of H₂ gas at cathode while the anodic reaction leads to the decomposition of urea-waste at the rate of 10 mA cm⁻² in 1 M KOH with a lower cell-potential of 1.38 V vs RHE. The SnS₂ electrode also demonstrates an excellent catalytic activity towards hydrogen evolution reaction in a wide pH range (0−14). In addition, the SnS₂ film deposited on an FTO-substrate shows 97.56% photocatalytic-degradation of methylene-blue dye within 180 min under irradiation of visible light with a good recyclability of the photocatalyst, suggesting its high potentiality for the practical application. The demonstrated good electro- and photo-catalytic activities can be ascribed to the nanoporous structure of SnS₂ film in a flower like 3D-fashion, offering availability of abundant active catalytic sites. Our results demonstrate the application of SnS₂ nanoporous film as catalyst can be a significant greenery path for the removal of harmful inorganic/organic hazardous wastes from waste-water with simultaneous generation of green H₂ fuel.