Cu doped cubic pyrite-type CoS2 ball like superstructures as heterogeneous photocatalyst

Copper doped CoS2 superstructures were prepared by template-free hydrothermal approach and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transition electron microscopy, UV-vis and PL spectroscopy. The as-prepared products were assembled to ball like structures at pure CoS2 and plates at doping one (CC-2), both of which were composed of similar cubic structures. Doping Cu into CoS2 lattice resulted in wide light absorption in the visible-range and thus enhancing photocatalytic activity for degradation of RhB. When the amount of doping reached 2mole%, heterogeneous photocatalyst exhibited a higher activity compared with pure one at room and higher temperatures.