Construction of Bi2S3/g-C3N4 step S-scheme heterojunctions for photothermal decomposition of rhodamine B dye under natural sunlight radiations

• Published in: Inorganic chemistry communications Vol. 148; p. 110300
• Main Authors: Basely, Abanoob M., Shaker, Mohamed H., Helmy, Fatma M., Abdel-Messih, M.F., Ahmed, M.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.02.2023
• Subjects: Bi2S3/g-C3N4 nanosheets; Near infra-red spectrum; Photothermal decomposition of RhB dye; Sonicated heterojunctions; Step S-scheme mechanism; Photothermal decomposition of RhB dye; Sonicated heterojunctions; Step S-scheme mechanism; Bi2S3/g-C3N4 nanosheets; Near infra-red spectrum
• ISSN: 1387-7003; 1879-0259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.inoche.2022.110300

[Display omitted] •Full use of sunlight and broaden the response spectral range of photocatalysts.•Sonochemical route fabricate Bi2S3/g-C3N4 heterojunction.•Strong distribution of Bi2S3 nanorods on g-C3N4 sheets.•A step S-scheme electron transfer scheme is purposed. Photocatalysis-based semiconductors employing the absorption characteristics of the full spectrum of natural sunlight is great challenge for green decomposing toxic organic pollutants. The proper choice of semiconductor of tuned band gap energy is primary key for optimizing the photon conversion efficiency. Bi2S3 nanoparticles of 1.6 eV band gap energy is promising and novel candidate for absorption full spectrum from natural sunlight. The photocorrosion and the fast recombination of charge carriers limit the optimization of this photocatalyst. Herein, we develop facile synthesis of Bi2S3/g-C3N4 heterojunctions with various concentration of Bi2S3 for decomposition of rhodamine B dye under natural solar radiations of 500 W intensity. In ultrasonic bath of 300 W intensity, various concentration of Bi2S3 nanoparticles of 6.8 m2/g surface area were incorporated homogeneously on the surface of g-C3N4 sheets of surface area 46 m2/g. The heterojunctions are well explored by XRD, DRS, PL, N2-adsorption–desorption isotherm, FESEM HRTEM and XPS analysis. Bi2S3 nanorods are concentrated on g-C3N4 sheets shifting the photocatalytic response to deep visible region. The rate of decomposition of rhodamine B dye on CNBiS10 nanoparticles is four fold higher than that of pristine g-C3N4 and Bi2S3 nanoparticles under natural solar radiations. Bi2S3 nanoparticles broad the optical reactivity under full spectrum of natural sunlight, enhance the massive charge-carriers transportation, suppressing the recombination rate of electron-hole, and thus enhancing the photocatalytic efficiency. Superoxide oxygen radicals species and positive holes play a predominant action in RhB decomposition. The charge carrier transportation proceeds adopting step S-scheme mechanism which is deliberated from PL studies of terephthalic acid and trapping radical scavengers experiments. The findings of this research illustrate that the novel Bi2S3/g-C3N4 heterojunction develop an efficient photocatalysts for utilizing natural sunlight to resolve environmental and energy problems.