title: The simple, template free synthesis of a Bi2S3-ZnO heterostructure and its superior photocatalytic activity under UV-A light.
abstract: The development of a heterostructured semiconductor photocatalyst makes a significant advancement in catalytic technologies. Highly crystalline Bi2S3-ZnO nanosheets with a hierarchical structure have been successfully synthesized by a facile sonochemical process and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area measurements. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the as synthesized product has an orthorhombic phase of Bi2S3 and a hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO. XPS analysis shows the presence of the elements Zn, O, Bi and S and their oxidation states. Bi2S3-ZnO has increased absorption in the UV region as well as in the visible region. This heterostructured nano catalyst has a higher photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Acid Black 1 (AB 1) under UV-A light than pure ZnO, Bi2S3 and commercial Degussa P25. The heterojunction in the Bi2S3-ZnO photocatalyst has led to low recombination rates of photoinduced electron-hole pairs and an enhanced photocatalytic activity. Bi2S3-ZnO is advantageous in AB 1 degradation because of its reusability and higher efficiency at neutral pH 7.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar-608 002, India.
authors: Subramanian
authors: S
authors: Balachandran
authors: Meenakshisundaram
authors: M
authors: Swaminathan
mesh_terms: D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D012666:Semiconductors; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013440:Sulfides; D015034:Zinc Oxide; D001729:Bismuth; C049897:bismuth sulfide