Synthesis of CuS nanoparticles by a wet chemical route and their photocatalytic activity

Abstract

CuS nanoparticles (NPs) of few nanometers in size were prepared by a wet chemical method. The structural, compositional, and optical properties of the NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, micro Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The XRD pattern proved the presence of hexagonal phase of CuS particles which was further supported by Raman spectrum. The estimated band gap energy of 2.05 eV for the slightly sulfur-rich CuS NPs is relatively larger than that of bulk CuS (1.85 eV), indicating the small size effect. As-prepared NPs showed excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light. The surface-bound OH -ions at the CuS nanostructures help adsorb MB molecules facilitating their degradation process under visible light illumination. The studies presented in this paper suggest that the synthesized CuS NPs are promising, efficient, stable, and visible-light-sensitive photocatalyst for the remediation of wastewater polluted by chemically stable azo dyes such as MB.

Synthesis of Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles Using Biogenic H2S Produced by a Low-pH Sulfidogenic Bioreactor

“…The results confirmed the presence of copper sulfide nanoparticles suspended with an approximate monomer size of less than 50 nm, though nanoaggregate formation occurred over several days, reaching a functional size of~700 nm. The nanoparticles produced in this study were remarkably crystalline and homogenous compared with those of other synthetic, wet chemical routes [9][10][11].…”

“…Biogenic production of metallic sulfide nanoparticles has been reported by using a range of different biological [8] and chemical approaches, including aqueous solutions [9], aqueous gels [10], and wet chemical routes using complexing agents [11]. The synthesis of copper sulfide nanoparticles has attracted increasing attention due to their important technological properties as advanced nanomaterials including novel applications in the biomedical area, e.g., as photothermal agents for cancer treatment [12].…”

CuS‐functionalized cellulose based aerogel as biocatalyst for removal of organic dye

“…Copper sulfide (CuS) is p‐type semiconductor from IB‐VIA group in the periodic table, member of transition metal chalcogenides family. The slight variation in the molar concentration ratio of copper and sulfur can produce different structural types of CuS, such as hexagonal plates of (Cu 7 S 4 ‐CuS), digenite (Cu 9 S 5 ), Covellite (CuS), and Chalcocite (Cu 2 S) . The greenish black Covellite (CuS) is one of the multifunctional semiconductors due to brilliant electronic, optical, chemical and physical properties with its non‐toxic nature, low cost, easy storage and facile synthesis process.…”

“…The greenish black Covellite (CuS) is one of the multifunctional semiconductors due to brilliant electronic, optical, chemical and physical properties with its non‐toxic nature, low cost, easy storage and facile synthesis process. The hexagonal crystalline structure of Covellite (CuS) is made of CuS 4 tetrahedron of charge Cu 2+ and S − that surrounds layers of planar triangles of CuS 3 with Cu 2+ and S 2− ions . It possess strong affinity to absorb visible spectrum light irradiation and carries a narrow bandgap between 1.55 and 2.16 eV, that widespread its use as a visible light responsive catalyst as well as a Fenton‐like reactant .…”

“…Solvothermal process was utilized to obtain flowerlike CuS structure which degraded 98.26% of MB after 30 min under light irradiation . Pal and co‐workers made nanoporous CuS by wet chemical method to degrade 50% MB in an hour under visible light . Another approach to synthesize nanoporous CuS was carried out by metal de‐alloying method.…”