Electrospun PET supported-ionic liquid-stabilized CdS catalyst for the photodegradation of Rhodamine B under visible light

We report the first synthesis of cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanowhiskers prepared by the sonochemical precipitation method using the green ionic liquid (IL), 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium lauryl sulfate, [OMIM]LS. The synthesized IL-stabilized CdS was immobilized in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers. The PET microfibers used as a support were produced via electrospinning of viscous PET solution. The whiskers assemble in an urchin-like crystal habit and exhibit a band-edge emission due to exciton recombination at 453.7 nm and a trap state emission due to surface defects at 648.1 nm. The catalyst/polymer ensemble was tested for its photocatalytic activity in the degradation of a model dye, Rhodamine B under visible light. The degradation rate of polymer-supported CdS catalyst is twice compared with the efficiency of the unsupported material.

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► First synthesis of CdS nanoparticles using 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium lauryl sulfate as stabilizing agent.
► Photocatalytically active CdS and PET/CdS towards degradation of Rhodamine B under visible light.
► CdS nanowhiskers assemble in urchin-like architecture on electrospun PET microfibers.