Size-controllable synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity of porous ZnS nanospheres

Size-controllable porous ZnS nanospheres consisting of nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized using an economical and simple chemical bath deposition. The results show that all the prepared nanospheres exhibit good size uniformity and regularity and are cubic ZnS structure. Moreover, the nanosphere surface is relatively rough and porous. It is interesting that the size and its distribution of ZnS nanospheres can be easily tuned by adjusting pH value. The photocatalytic activity of the ZnS nanospheres was evaluated by photodegradation reaction of methylene blue. The as-prepared ZnS nanospheres with smaller diameter exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity, which is associated with the larger specific surface area and favorable dispersibility.

► Size-controllable porous ZnS nanospheres have been successfully synthesized.
► The prepared ZnS nanospheres exhibit good size uniformity and regularity.
► The ZnS nanospheres with smaller diameter exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity.