Controllable architecture of CdS and CuS by single-source precursor-mediated approach and their photocatalytic activity

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology Vol. 15; no. 4; p. 1
• Main Authors: Sahoo, Ashish K., Srivastava, Suneel K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.04.2013; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Benzene; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical synthesis methods; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Decomposition; Electron states and collective excitations in thin films, multilayers, quantum wells, mesoscopic and nanoscale systems; Electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films and low-dimensional structures; Exact sciences and technology; Inorganic Chemistry; Lasers; Low-dimensional structures (superlattices, quantum well structures, multilayers): structure, and nonelectronic properties; Materials Science; Methods of nanofabrication; Nanoparticles; Nanoscale materials: clusters, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanocrystals; Nanotechnology; Optical Devices; Optics; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Research Paper; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Photocatalytic activity; Lotus-like microflowers; Single-source precursor; Hierarchical architecture; Catalysts; Precursor; Microparticles; Nanoparticles; Copper complexes; Temperature dependence; Scanning electron microscopy; Electronic properties; Photocatalysis; Template reaction; Raman spectroscopy; Electron field emission; Field emission electron microscopy; Methylene blue; Hexagonal lattices; Transmission electron microscopy; Sodium; Benzene; Morphology; Catalyst activity; Nanostructured materials
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-013-1591-8

The present work deals with the preparation of hexagonal CdS and CuS by solvothermal decomposition of the morpholine-4-carbdithioate (MCDT) complexes of Cd and Cu in a water/THF mixture at 140–180 °C for 24 h and characterization. Scanning electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy show that CdS exhibits a hierarchical star- and lotus flower-like morphology in the presence of disodium salt of ethylenediamine tetraaceticacid and sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate as soft templates at 140 and 160 °C, respectively. However, Cu complex of MCDT forms CuS nanoparticles in the temperature range of 140–180 °C. On the contrary, CdS nanoparticles and CuS microparticles are formed in the absence of any template under the identical experimental conditions. Raman studies show the characteristic peak of CdS and CuS, irrespective of their size and morphology. Finally, CdS and CuS of varying morphology have successfully been used as catalysts in UV photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue dye. These findings show that CdS lotus-like microflowers are more effective catalysts than hierarchical stars, though the latter is found to have better reusability. Graphical Abstract A simple soft template-assisted and single complex source precursor-mediated solvothermal synthesis of CdS and CuS with a diverse set of morphology has been reported. In addition, the morphology and application in photocatalysis are also discussed.