Monodisperse SnS₂ nanosheets for high-performance photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Graphene-like two-dimensional layered materials have attracted quite a lot of interest because of their sizable band gaps and potential applications. In this work, monodisperse tin disulfide (SnS₂) nanosheets were successfully prepared by a simple solvothermal procedure in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Large PVP molecules absorbing on (001) facets of SnS₂ would inhibit crystal growth along [001] orientation and protect the product from agglomeration. The obtained SnS₂ nanosheets have diameters of ca. 0.8-1 μm and thicknesses of ca. 22 nm. Different experiment parameters were carried out to investigate the transformation of phase and morphology. The formation mechanism was proposed according to the time-dependent experiments. SnS₂ nanosheets exhibit high photocatalytic H₂ evolution activity of 1.06 mmol h^-1 g^-1 under simulated sunlight irradiation, much higher than that of SnS₂ with different morphologies and P25-TiO₂. Moreover, the as-obtained SnS₂ nanosheets show excellent photoelectrochemical response performance in visible-light region.