Photocatalytic Activity of Hydrothermally Grown Cu2+-Doped ZnO–SnS Nanocomposites .

What is it about?

The morphology, chemical composition, and doping process of metal oxides and sulfides play a significant role in their photocatalytic performance under solar light illumination. We synthesized Cu2+-doped ZnO–SnS nanocomposites at 220 °C for 10 h, using hydrothermal methods. These nanocomposites were structurally, morphologically, and optically characterized using various techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. Their photocatalytic activity (PCA) on methylene blue (MB) pollutant dye was examined under 150 W solar light illumination. Mixed-phase abundances with hexagonal ZnO and orthorhombic SnS structures were observed. TEM micrographs showed changes in morphology from spherical to nano-flake structures with an increasing doping concentration. XPS indicated the chemical states of the constituent elements in the nanocomposites. UV-visible absorption spectroscopy showed a decrease in the bandgap with an increasing doping concentration. Strong PCA was observed due to the separation of charge carriers, a change in bandgap, and a high light absorption ability under solar light irradiation. The measured photodegradation efficiency of the MB dye was approximately 97% after 2 h. The movement of the charge carriers and the bandgap alignment of the synthesized composites are briefly discussed.

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Why is it important?

Environmental pollution has reached unacceptable levels due to the rapid growth of civilization and industrialization. Water resources are contaminated by effluents released from industries, such as oil refineries and cement, textiles, pulp, and paper plants. Organic dyes (pigments) and various types of herbicides (for example 2, 4-D, and 2,4-DCP) pollute freshwater bodies

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