A photocatalyst: Zinc sulfides nanospheres immobilized on activated carbon for the abatement of aquatic organic pollutants

• Published in: Inorganic chemistry communications 2021-11, Vol.133, p.108958, Article 108958
• Main Authors: Bhavsar, K.S., Labhane, P.K., Murade, V.D., Dhake, R.B., Sonawane, G.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Scavenger Study; Synergy of adsorption and photocatalysis; Visible light responsive photocatalyst
• ISSN: 1387-7003; 1879-0259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.inoche.2021.108958

Plausible Photocatalytic degradation mechanism. [Display omitted] •ZnS nanospheres immobilized on activated carbon synthesized via a mixed solvothermal method.•Immobilization with activated carbon not only induced better adsorption but also reduced photo-generated electron-hole pair’s recombination of ZnS.•The improved adsorption leads to enhance degradation of dye under visible light.•ZnS nanospheres immobilized on activated carbon could be an efficient alternative environment friendly material for photocatalytic processes. Formulation of visible light responsive photocatalyst with excellent adsorption and great electron-holes reduction in semiconductor-based catalyst is always a major concern for scientific community. In this report a visible light responsive ZnS nanospheres immobilized on activated carbon (AC-ZnS) photocatalyst was prepared by mixed solvothermal method. The crystallographic properties, morphologies, thermal stability, adsorption properties and photocatalytic performance of prepared samples were studied by several methods. The results of XRD were used to analyze various physical parameters of prepared catalyst. The nanocomposite photocatalysts were used to analyze adsorption and photocatalytic study on Congo red dye, a model organic pollutant. The adsorption followed by photocatalysis with as-prepared catalyst offers an excellent performance for the abatement of Congo red. Moreover, radical scavengers study revealed that hydroxyl radicals are the main contributors for the photocatalytic degradation of Congo red with AC-ZnS nanocomposite. Eventually, through various characterizations and synergy of effective adsorption and enhanced photocatalytic degradation, AC-ZnS nanocomposite proved to be an economical, environmentally friendly and highly efficient material for photocatalytic processes.