Preparation of flower-like CuS by solvothermal method and its photodegradation and UV protection

• The flower-like CuS was prepared via solvothermal method.
• The as-prepared CuS showed better photodegradation of MB solution under visible region.
• The cotton fabric treated by the obtained flower-like CuS was proved to have a potential application in anti-UV field.

The flower-like CuS with hierarchical structures were synthesized by a solvothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV–vis optical absorption spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and ultraviolet transmittance analyzer labsphere were used to characterize the as-prepared products. The results of photocatalytic degradation of Methylene blue (MB) demonstrated that the as-prepared flower-like CuS possessed high photocatalytic performance in UV and visible range and its band gap was 1.45 eV. The degradation rate of MB by CuS with the absence of H2O2 was 98.23% and 100% under xenon lamp and Mercury tungsten blended lamp for 30 min, respectively. And a new approach for ultraviolet (UV) protection of cotton fabrics treated by flower-like CuS microspheres was innovatively investigated and the results showed that flower-like CuS was a good UV resistant material.