Synthesis and Photoelectrocatalytic Performance of Sb₂S₃ Nanorods from Natural Stibnite

Abstract

Antimony trisulfide (Sb 2 S 3) nanorods were successfully synthesized via hydrothermal method with the assistance of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), using natural stibnite as precursor. The effects of experimental parameters on the morphology and the properties of the obtained Sb 2 S 3 were systematically studied, and the possible formation mechanism of Sb 2 S 3 nanorods in the preparation process was also discussed. Phase, compositions, morphology and photoelectric properties of the products were investigated by a series of characterization methods. The photocatalytic activity of nano Sb 2 S 3 on the degradation of methyl orange were investigated under the visible light irradiation. The results showed that the Sb 2 S 3 nanoflakes formed after hydrothermal synthesis at 160℃ for 12 h, and the nanoflakes would transform into nanorods eventually after N 2-annealing at 400℃ for 1 h. The obtained Sb 2 S 3 nanorods with a single crystal structure are typically 2~3 μm in length, 100~200 nm in width, which are direct semiconductor with band gap of 1.66 eV. Photocatalytic degradation rate of the obtained Sb 2 S 3 nanorods on methyl orange under visible light irradiation is higher than that of commercial Sb 2 S 3 , which is up to 87.6% after 60 min degradation, exhibiting obvious visible-light activity.