Growth, microstructure, structural and optical properties of PVP-capped CdS nanoflowers for efficient photocatalytic activity of Rhodamine B

- Synthesis of un-capped and PVP-capped CdS microstructures by Hydrothermal.
- Growth of both the flower and dendrite microstructures controlled by the growth time.
- Phase transition of CdS from cubic zinc blend to hexagonal by the growth time.
- CdS flowers enhanced the photocatalytic performance of RhB under visible light.
- PVP-capped CdS showed the highest degradation of 95% of RhB within 120 min.

Size and structure tunability of polyvinyl pyrolidone (PVP) capped cadmium sulfide (PVP-capped CdS) flowers were synthesized by controlling the reaction time. XRD pattern indicated a phase transition from the cubic zinc blend to the hexagonal phase of CdS powder as the reaction time increased. As per the microstructure analysis with respect to the reaction time, the spherical nanoparticles were transformed in to the flower like morphology consisting of sword like nanorods and confirmed by the bright field images of TEM, while, HR-TEM images showed the uniform lattice spacing. UV-spectra exhibited a red shift due to the excitations of CdS nanoparticles. The near band edge (NBE) peak of PVP-capped CdS was completely diminished which indicated to sulphur vacancies on the surface of flowers. The photocatalytic activity of PVP-capped CdS flowers was detected the fast degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye (95% for 120 min) by irradiation of visible light.

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