10.1007/s40097-022-00508-y

The ZnS–CuS thin layer nanocomposites green synthesis and their efficient photocatalytic applications in photodegradation the organic dye molecules

  • Beheshteh Sohrabi*1,
  • Azam Karimi1,
  • Karim Khanmohammadi Chenab1,
  1. Surface Chemistry Research Laboratory, Faculty of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, IR

Published in Issue 28-08-2022

How to Cite

Sohrabi, B., Karimi, A., & Chenab, K. K. (2022). The ZnS–CuS thin layer nanocomposites green synthesis and their efficient photocatalytic applications in photodegradation the organic dye molecules. Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry, 13(5 (October 2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40097-022-00508-y
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Abstract

Abstract Here, the zinc sulfide–copper sulfide (ZnS–CuS) nanocomposites have been synthesized using immersing thin layers of ZnS in 0.5 (M) Copper (II) chloride solution at low temperature by a simple and cost-effective chemical bath deposition (CBD) method. The immersion time of ZnS thin films in copper (II) chloride solution was investigated based on the structural, morphological, optical and optical catalytic activity of the prepared layers. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the formation of CuS: ZnS nanolayers consists of nanocrystals with an approximate diameter of less than 10 nm during the immersion time of 1 min. The particles forming the layers are dense and have good adhesion to the substrate. The energy gap of the layers decreases with increasing copper, which can lead to phase formation. Their significant photocatalytic activities in the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye in aqueous media have been considered, because ZnS:CuS nanocomposite thin films showed light catalytic activity in the RhB degradation in presence of visible radiation, so that the percentage of dye degradation is decreased by increasing the amount of copper and the duration of exposure to visible light due to slowing down the recombination rate of electron–hole pairs. While investigating the optical catalytic activity of the layers, there was no need to homogenize and centrifuge the solution to separate the nanoparticles from it. The main aim of this study is consideration of the effects of CuS amount on the photocatalytic activity of ZnS–CuS nanocomposite under the CBD method of synthesis condition.

Keywords

  • Nanocomposite,
  • Photocatalytic,
  • Photodegradation,
  • Rhodamine B,
  • Chemical bath deposition method

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