title: Adsorption and enhanced photocatalytic activity of the {0 0 0 1} faceted Sm-doped ZnIn2S4 microspheres.
abstract: In this study, the doping effect of samarium on the structure, morphology, adsorption and photocatalytic performance of hexagonal ZnIn2S4 microspheres was studied. The photocatalytic activity of Sm-doped ZnIn2S4 microspheres was evaluated for the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl orange (MO) under visible light irradiation. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, XPS, UV-vis, TEM, and N2 adsorption-desorption analysis. The results show that the hexagonal ZnIn2S4 microspheres are composed of nanoplates growing along c-axis with the predominant negative-charged S plane. Compared with the photodegadation of MO dye, the negative-charged {0 0 0 1} facets not only are beneficial for the adsorption of RhB by -N(Et)2 groups but also can accumulate the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, enhancing photodegradation efficiency by direct-hole photocatalysis. Moreover, Sm is partially substituted for In in the crystal lattice for forming the doping energy level which promotes the separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs and enhances absorption of visible light. Hexagonal 2% Sm-doped ZnIn2S4 microspheres with exposed {0 0 0 1} facets resulted in higher photodegradation efficiency of RhB under visible light irradiation.
authors.affiliation: School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, PR China.
authors.forename: Congwei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, PR China. Electronic address: zgq2006@snnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Gangqiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Materials and Structures Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Mirabbos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hojamberdiev
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Jnana Sagara Campus, Bellary, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Koodlur Sannegowda
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lokesh
authors.affiliation: School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiancong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, PR China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, PR China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D007204:Indium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D008863:Microspheres; D010782:Photolysis; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000737:chemistry; D012493:Samarium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D004396:Coloring Agents; D012235:Rhodamines; D013440:Sulfides; D007204:Indium; D012493:Samarium; C100258:methyl orange; D015032:Zinc; C029773:rhodamine B
keywords: Adsorption; Crystal facet; Photocatalytic activity; Visible light; ZnIn(2)S(4)