Microwave-Assisted Preparation of CdS Nanoparticles in a Halide-Free Ionic Liquid and Their Photocatalytic Activities

A microwave-assisted (4–6 min) method was used for the preparation of CdS nanoparticles in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate, a halide-free room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL). The samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Diffuse reflectance spectra showed a 1.33 eV blue shift relative to bulk CdS. The photocatalytic activities of the nanoparticles for photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) using UV and visible light were measured. The photodegradation of MB decreased with calcination temperature. First order rate constants for the reaction under visible and UV irradiations over the nanoparticles prepared in the RTIL rich media were 5.4 and 2.5 higher, respectively, than the sample prepared in water.