Photoconductive, photocatalytic and antifungal properties of PbS:Mo nanoparticles synthesized via precipitation method

Molybdenum substituted PbS (PbS:Mo) nanoparticles has been synthesized by a cost effective precipitation method. The undoped and doped nanoparticles exhibit face-centered cubic structure. The presence of Mo in the doped samples is confirmed from the EDX spectra. Band gap value of pure PbS decreases with Mo doping. Photosensitivity seems to decrease with Mo doping. Photocatalytic tests performed show that the photodegradation efficiency of PbS increases with Mo substitution and the 5 wt.% Mo-doped sample exhibits a maximum efficiency of 90.24% and 83.95% against the degradation of congo red and rhodamine B dyes, respectively. The PbS:Mo nanoparticles exhibit better antifungal activity against A. niger fungus. The obtained results confirm that the PbS:Mo nanoparticles are well suited as an efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of organic dyes and a potential antimicrobial agent.