10.6084/m9.figshare.7461488.v1 Luca Rimoldi Luca Rimoldi Daniela Meroni Daniela Meroni Eleonora Pargoletti Eleonora Pargoletti Iolanda Biraghi Iolanda Biraghi Giuseppe Cappelletti Giuseppe Cappelletti Silvia Ardizzone Silvia Ardizzone Experimental data and data analysis from Role of the growth step on the structural, optical and surface features of TiO<sub>2</sub>/SnO<sub>2</sub> composites The Royal Society 2018 titanium dioxide tin oxide TiO2/SnO2 composite hydrothermal treatment calcination 2018-12-13 13:13:47 Journal contribution https://rs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Experimental_data_and_data_analysis_from_Role_of_the_growth_step_on_the_structural_optical_and_surface_features_of_TiO_sub_2_sub_SnO_sub_2_sub_composites/7461488 TiO<sub>2</sub>/SnO<sub>2</sub> composites have attracted considerable attention for their application in photocatalysis, fuel cells and sensors. Structural, morphological, optical and surface features play a pivotal role in photoelectrochemical applications and are critically related to the synthetic route. Most of the reported synthetic procedures require high temperature treatments in order to tailor the sample crystallinity, usually at the expense of surface hydroxylation and morphology. In this work, we investigate the role of a treatment in an autoclave at a low temperature (100°C) on the sample properties and photocatalytic performance. With respect to samples calcined at 400°C, the milder crystallization treatment promotes anatase phase, mesoporosity and water chemi/physisorption, while reducing the incorporation of heteroatoms within the TiO<sub>2</sub> lattice. The role of Sn content was also investigated, showing a marked influence, especially on the structural properties. Notably, at a high content, Sn favours the formation of rutile TiO<sub>2</sub> at very low reaction temperatures (100°C), thanks to the structural compatibility with cassiterite SnO<sub>2</sub>. Selected samples were tested towards the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline in water under UV light. Overall, the low temperature treatment enables to tune the TiO<sub>2</sub> phase composition while maintaining its surface hydrophilicity and gives rise to well dispersed SnO<sub>2</sub> at the TiO<sub>2</sub> surface.