Photocatalytic activity, nanostructure and optical properties of 3D ZnS urchin-like via hydrothermal method

Abstract

In the present research, the fabrication and characterization of ZnS urchin-like nanoparticles (ULNPs) via simple, template free and onestep hydrothermal method are reported. Zinc acetate dihydrate, thiosemicarbazide and ethylenediamine are utilized as precursors. Nanostructure characterization of three-dimension ZnS ULNPs is specified by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of ZnS NPs is determined by measuring the degradation of an organic dye methylene orange (MO) under UV-irradiation. The lattice characteristics such as nanocrystallite size, strain, stress, and deformation energy density are specified using Williamson-Hall (W-H) and Halder-Wagner (H-W) analysis with different considerations about the isotropic nature of the crystal. XRD analysis reveals that ZnS NPs are hexagonal wurtzite phase. The shape and mean diameter of NPs are demonstrated by TEM and SEM techniques to be 3D urchin-like with an average size of 60 nm. N2 adsorption-desorption and UV-Vis spectroscopies are utilized to specify the optical characteristics such as mean pore diameter, total pore size, and BET special surface area. The band gap of fabrication ZnS NPs has been evaluated from the Tauc equation and absorption edge to be 3.84 eV.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Malachite Green Dye Using Zinc Sulfide Nanostructures

“…The y-intercept value is kλ/D, thus we get the crystallite size. [19] Figure 3.gives WÀ H plot of ZnS1, ZnS2 and ZnS3.The crystallite size and strain obtained from WÀ H plot is described in Table 2.…”

Recent Developments in ZnS-Based Nanostructures Photocatalysts for Wastewater Treatment

“…), 2D (nanoplates, nanofilms, 1D nanostructure arrays, etc. ), and 3D (hierarchical assemblies of 1D/2D NSs) [ 26 , 37 ]. The morphology strongly influences the ZnS nanostructures’ photocatalytic performance, due to the direct effect on the distribution of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and the ability to absorb reactants.…”

“…To overcome these impediments, various strategies have been used to improve the photocatalytic performance of ZnS NSs by adjusting band gap energy (to absorb Vis light), such as morphology engineering [ 23 , 24 ], metal/non-metal doping [ 3 , 9 , 25 , 26 ], defect engineering [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ], dye sensitization [ 18 ], and heterostructures construction [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]. However, nanostructured ZnS materials have versatile potential applications in optoelectronic devices (e.g., flat-panel displays, injection lasers, UV light-emitting diodes, electroluminescent sensors, and infrared windows [ 5 , 37 , 38 ]) and as photocatalysts in the following processes: (a) green synthesis of organic compounds (e.g., substituted tetrazoles and xanthene and its derivatives [ 5 ]), (b) syngas production in water [ 39 ], (c) CO 2 photoreduction [ 40 ], and (d) H 2 production via water splitting [ 27 , 41 , 42 , 43 ].…”

Photocatalytic degradation of Ponceau 4R by ZnAl‐layered double hydroxide nanostructures obtained with and without polyvinyl alcohol

“…[3,4] The band gap values indicate the gaps determined for all the semiconductors that exist in the visible-light region; hence, they can be applied in photocatalysis. [5] Zinc containing layered double hydroxides [6][7][8] oxides [9][10][11][12] sulfides [13][14][15] and other semiconductors [16] are very effective photocatalysts with unique optical properties. It is important for electrons to move from the valence band (VB) to the conduction band (CB) under less energy irradiation.…”