Enhanced visible light photocatalytic reduction of organic pollutant and electrochemical properties of CuS catalyst

• CuS photocatalysts were synthesized via hydrothermal method.
• The photocatalytic property was tested for nitrobenzene and 4-nitrophenol.
• Catalysts were photocatalytically active and stable up to four cycles of degradation.
• Under visible light irradiation, a maximum degradation of 100% efficiency has been achieved.

The present work states the removal of organic compound using CuS photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. The CuS photocatalysts were synthesized by hydrothermal method by using copper nitrate as copper precursor and thiourea, sodium thiosulphate as sulfur precursors via hydrothermal route. The reaction was carried out at 150 °C for 24 h using water as a solvent. The prepared CuS nanostructures were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, FE-SEM, photoluminescence (PL), UV–vis spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). A detailed mechanism on the effect of sulfur source on CuS morphology has been elucidated. The catalytic process efficiency mainly depends upon the adsorption and electron transfer between the dye molecules. The successive decrement in the absorbance at 400 nm shows the effective decrease in 4-nitrophenol pollutant as monitored by UV–vis spectrophotometer. The as prepared CuS catalyst showed highly efficient and versatile photocatalytic activities as well as excellent recyclability in degrading organic contaminant viz. nitrobenzene and 4-nitrophenol under visible light irradiation.

Schematic representation of degradation mechanism for the 4-nitrophenol pollutant with CuS photocatalyst under visible light irradiation.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide