From CdS to Cu₇ S₄ Nanorods via a Cation Exchange Route and Their Applications: Environmental Pollution Removal, Photothermal Conversion and Light-Induced Water Evaporation

Abstract

A detailed transformation process of cation exchange (CE) chemistry from hexagonal phase CdS to CdS-Cu 7 S 4 core-shell heterostructures nanorods and eventually to monoclinic phase Cu 7 S 4 nanorods is reported. Applications of the nanorods in environmental pollution removal, photothermal conversion and light-induced water evaporation were investigated. The influence of the reaction time, morphology, and crystal phase on the photocatalysis, photothermal conversion and light-induced water evaporation was discussed. The results showed maximum removal value of rhodamine B by 97.8% at 1 h timepoint.Aqueous dispersion of the core-shell CdS-Cu 7 S 4 heterostructures nanorods prepared with 2 h (1.0 g/L) exhibited a good photothermal conversion performance as it saw increase in sample temperature by 37.8 o C in 300 s under the irradiation of 980 nm laser. The exposure of as-obtained sample film to simulated sunlight irradiation at 2 h (8 mg) increased the weight loss of pure water by 0.62 g in 30 min with the water evaporation efficiency up to 48.4%. We are reporting an excellent light-induced water evaporation performance potential of the nanorods discussed.[a] Dr.

Plasmonic Cu9S5 Nanonets for Microwave Absorption

“…Specifically, the quantum size effects could cause semiconductors with splitting of the electron energy band where the transitions within the band could approach to the microwave energy and lead to absorption of microwave energy. , The rich pool of semiconductors, including TiO 2 , ,,− g -C 3 N 4 , FeP, Mn x O y , , ZnO, SiO 2 , Fe x O y , and Cu 2– x S, ,− offers plenty of choices for possible materials candidates. Because of the highly self-doped feature, copper chalcogenide Cu 2– x S is attractive for its outstanding plasmonic properties in long-wavelength absorption and free electron movements in its various solid phases ranging from copper-rich Cu 2 S to copper-poor CuS, e.g., Cu 2 S, Cu 1.75 S, Cu 1.8 S, − Cu 1.96 S, and CuS. , …”

Interfacial Solar Vapor Generation: Introducing Students to Experimental Procedures and Analysis for Efficiently Harvesting Energy and Generating Vapor at the Air–Water Interface

“…BPP shows the largest m asml of 0.86 kg m –2 after 90 min of irradiation, which is 1.08, 1.26, and 1.56 times those for CF, BTB, and pure water, respectively. The solar vapor generation rate ( r svg ), one of the most common indicators to assess the solar vapor generation performance, is calculated from eq . − where m loss denotes the mass of the evaporated water in a given time, D is the diameter of the solar vapor generator (18.96 mm) or, for pure water, the inner diameter of the 10 mL beaker (22.5 mm), and t is the irradiation time. As shown in Figure B, r svg increases with t in the following order: pure water (0.365 kg m –2 h –1 ) < BTB (0.454 kg m –2 h –1 ) < CF (0.530 kg m –2 h –1 ) < BPP (0.570 kg m –2 h –1 ) after 90 min of solar irradiation.…”

“…In recent academic studies, various black materials, such as metals, , semiconductors, ,− , ceramics, carbons, − ,,,,− polymers, and their hybrids, have been investigated as solar absorbers because of their high solar absorptions over the entire solar irradiation spectrum, and they are blended with other materials to make solar vapor generators. For instance, in our previous works, plasmonic hierarchical CuS nanoparticles and Cu 9 S 5 nanonets , with high light-harvesting abilities were used as photothermal conversion materials and were blended with N , N -dimethylformamide (DMF) solutions containing poly­(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) to prepare integrated CuS/PVDF and Cu 9 S 5 /PVDF composite membranes as solar vapor generators, in which the microporous PVDF membrane was employed the supporting substrate.…”

“…It utilizes an interfacial solar vapor generator to absorb sunlight, convert the absorbed solar energy to thermal energy, and heat the water at the air–water interface to convert it into vapor . Since the report of the interfacial solar vapor generation technique by Deng’s group and Chen’s group in 2014, considerable efforts have been made for solar vapor generation, − and great potential and promising prospects have been demonstrated for solar desalination, − , wastewater treatment, , electricity generation, , vapor sterilization, , photothermal motors, etc.…”

Ultrathin Tungsten Bronze Nanowires with Efficient Photo-to-Thermal Conversion Behavior

“…Near-infrared (NIR, 780–2500 nm) light makes up to 52% of the photoenergy of the sunlight arriving at the earth’s surface, so many scientists have made great efforts to develop efficient NIR absorbents in the hope of making the utmost use of solar energy. , Photo-to-thermal conversion is a hotspot in the research of NIR conversion. So far, various NIR absorbents have been exploited, such as gold nanostructures, CuS, CuSe and organic dyes etc., − which could be applied in solar-driven water evaporation and the area of tumor therapy. However, there are some drawbacks restricting the development.…”