Nitrogen-Doped Hollow Carbon Spheres-Decorated Co2SnO4/WS2 Heterostructures with Improved Visible-Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dye

Advanced photocatalytic materials for environmental cleanup need to be developed in response to growing concerns about water pollution. This paper presents a novel N-doped hollow carbon spheres (NHCSs)-supported Co₂SnO₄/WS₂ heterostructure synthesized using a hydrothermal approach and examined using various characterization techniques to evaluate the crystal structures, functional groups, surface morphology, chemical properties, and optical characteristics. The photocatalytic performance of the Co₂SnO₄/WS₂@NHCSs composite was assessed by degrading Congo red (CR) under visible light, resulting in a notable degradation rate of 87.22% in 60 min. The enhanced degradation efficiency is ascribed to the Z-scheme heterojunction charge-transfer mechanism, which augments sustained charge separation while suppressing recombination under visible-light irradiation. Furthermore, the quenching experiments revealed that specific superoxide radicals (^•O₂^-) and hydroxyl radicals (^•OH) were integral to the degradation reaction, and a potential Z-scheme charge-transfer pathway mechanism for the effective Co₂SnO₄/WS₂@NHCSs photocatalysts was also suggested. The potential degradation mechanism was suggested using LC-MS analysis. This study highlights the promise of Co₂SnO₄/WS₂@NHCSs composites for practical wastewater treatment applications, providing a sustainable and effective solution for environmental remediation.