Fabrication of ZnS Hollow Spheres and RGO-ZnS Nanocomposite Using Cysteamine as Novel Sulfur Source: Photocatalytic Performance on Industrial Dyes and Effluent

Abstract

A facile one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of hollow ball-like ZnS nanostructures is reported using cysteamine, an ecofriendly sulfur source. Following similar protocol, a heterostructure of RGO-ZnS nanocomposite have been synthesized. The as-synthesized samples are structurally and optically characterized using different techniques. The photocatalytic activity of RGO-ZnS has been found to be ∼9% higher than that of ball-like ZnS nanostructures at a dose of 0.4 g/L. This result is attributed to the improved charge transport by hindering charge recombination of photoinduced excitons. One of the significant findings of this work is that the model anionic dye degraded better under alkaline condition with ZnS whereas the trend is reversed for RGO-ZnS composite. The removal efficiency of both the systems is allied with structural, morphological, and optical properties to understand the underlying mechanism of synthesis as well as photocatalysis process.

Tuning the Multifunctional Surface Chemistry of Reduced Graphene Oxide via Combined Elemental Doping and Chemical Modifications

“…The cysteamine-directed reduction events, i.e., hydrogenation and oxygen removal on these carbon species, could be greatly responsible for the diminished signals. 43 The dramatic decline of the C–O–C peak could be linked to the reduction process, whereas the obvious fall trend observed for the C=C bond can be associated with the thiol-ene reaction, which targeted the sp 2 C on the graphene network to click the −SH group on the cysteamine molecule via the thermal thiol-ene click reaction. Remarkably, the C–S species (285 eV) was detected in all the spectra of cys-N-rGOs.…”

“…This discovery divulges and confirms the synergistic role of cysteamine not only as an effective functionalization agent but also as a reducing agent, which was evident in our studies and has been supported in the literature. 43…”

Efficient Degradation of Endocrine Disruptors Using 1D and 3D Copper (I) Oxide Nanostructures

“…Thus in order to utilize the solar spectrum efficiently, researchers are keen to develop visible‐ light photocatalysts for the degradation of EDCs ,. Nowadays, along with doped semconductors, nano‐ composites, have emerged as potential photocatalysts. Mostly different nano‐ composite materials like rGO‐ Ag nanoparticle, Ag–AgCl/ZnFe 2 O 4 magnetic nanocomposite, Ag@helical chiral TiO 2 nanofibers has been used for the degradation of different endrocrine disruptors.…”

High‐performance photocatalysts for the selective oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds

“…Specific examples include nanorods, [ 139 ] nanoflowers, [ 140,141 ] nanodisks, [ 142 ] and hollow‐spheres. [ 143 ] Apart from nanoparticles and bulk materials, 1D nanomaterials are also gaining significant interest. 1D nanoparticles offer significant advantages in terms of higher surface to volume ratio, thereby enhancing light absorption and better charge separation efficiency due to the straight charge transport pathway.…”