Assembling Ultrafine SnO₂ Nanoparticles on MIL-101(Cr) Octahedrons for Efficient Fuel Photocatalytic Denitrification

Effectively reducing the concentration of nitrogen-containing compounds (NCCs) remains a significant but challenging task in environmental restoration. In this work, a novel step-scheme (S-scheme) SnO₂@MCr heterojunction was successfully fabricated via a facile hydrothermal method. At this heterojunction, MIL-101(Cr) octahedrons are decorated with highly dispersed SnO₂ quantum dots (QDs, approximate size 3 nm). The QDs are evenly wrapped around the MIL-101(Cr), forming an intriguing zero-dimensional/three-dimensional (0D/3D) S-scheme heterostructure. Under simulated sunlight irradiation (280 nm < λ < 980 nm), SnO₂@MCr demonstrated superior photoactivity toward the denitrification of pyridine, a typical NCC. The adsorption capacity and adsorption site of SnO2@MCr were also investigated. Tests using 20%SnO₂@MCr exhibited much higher activity than that of pure SnO₂ and MIL-101(Cr); the reduction ratio of Cr(VI) is rapidly increased to 95% after sunlight irradiation for 4 h. The improvement in the photocatalytic activity is attributed to (i) the high dispersion of SnO₂ QDs, (ii) the binding of the rich adsorption sites with pyridine molecules, and (iii) the formation of the S-scheme heterojunction between SnO₂ and MIL-101(Cr). Finally, the photocatalytic mechanism of pyridine was elucidated, and the possible intermediate products and degradation pathways were discussed.