Green electrosynthesis strategies of <scp>SnO</scp> catalysts for enhanced photodegradation of 2,4‐dichlorophenol

Abstract The electrogeneration of SnO using an environmentally friendly approach was assessed by utilizing three different electrolytes: N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), plant extract (PE), and a combination of PE with a deep eutectic solvent (PE‐DES). The catalysts were characterized through FTIR, XRD, BET surface area analysis, and UV–Vis DRS to determine their structural and optical properties. The photocatalytic degradation of 2,4‐dichlorophenol (2,4‐DCP) was then evaluated for each catalyst under visible light exposure. At pH 3, SnO‐PE‐DES exhibited the highest degradation rate of 99.22%, making it the most efficient catalyst. SnO‐DMF showed a degradation efficiency of 93.81%, while commercial SnO achieved 86.60%. The degradation efficiency of SnO‐PE alone was only 23.46%, but incorporating DES significantly improved its performance. This enhancement is attributed to DES's ability to promote a more organized SnO structure, increasing the surface area and improving interactions with 2,4‐DCP molecules. Due to its environmentally friendly synthesis and outstanding photocatalytic activity, SnO‐PE‐DES was selected for further optimization studies. This catalyst demonstrates great potential for photocatalytic applications in wastewater treatment. Its impressive performance under visible light, coupled with its eco‐friendly synthesis, makes it a promising candidate for large‐scale environmental remediation projects powered by solar energy.