Synthesis of ZnS/dravite composite and its photocatalytic activity on degradation of methylene blue

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) hollow spheres are synthesized via hydrothermal method from thiourea and Zn(OOCHCH3)2·2H2O, and ZnS-hollow-spheres/dravite (ZnS/dravite) composite is prepared in the presence of the dravite. It is demonstrated that the ZnS hollow spheres have an outer diameter of ~ 120 nm with shell 20 ~ 30 nm in thickness, and are dispersed uniformly on dravite microparticles. HRTEM observation and time course experiments reveal that the hollow spheres are formed in the spontaneous permanent polar field of dravite and grow up into larger size with the hydrothermal treatment time. The prepared ZnS/dravite composites exhibit high efficient catalytic activity on degrading methylene blue under UV (360 nm) irradiation.