Stabilizer free copper sulphide nanostructures for rapid photocatalytic decomposition of rhodamine B

• CuS functional 3-D nanostructures were synthesized.
• We demonstrated the photocatalytic activity of the CuS nanostructure through photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B dye.
• 64% of Rhodamine B dye was degraded within 3 min.
• 3D superstructure influenced photocatalytic recyclability.
• Effect of Illumination intensity and Effect of catalytic amount on photocatalytic activity was explained.

The capping agents present on the surfaces of nanoparticles unfavourably modify the properties of the nanostructures. Particularly in the catalysis, most of the potential catalytic centres are screened by the capping agents. Therefore, we have developed a novel method of synthesizing stabilizer-free CuS and Cu2S nanostructures for photocatalytic applications. These nanostructures were synthesized by modified HMDS assisted synthetic method at 130 °C. The CuS microflowers were constructed by self-assembly of nanoflakes which was grown through anisotropic growth of (1 0 3) planes. We have demonstrated an efficient photocatalytic activity of CuS nanostructures through photocatalytic decomposition of Rhodamine B dye. The CuS flowers rapidly decomposed Rhodamine B in solution (12 min). The efficient catalytic activity is explained by invoking clean surfaces of nanoparticles. We have also demonstrated the influence of illumination intensity on the efficiency of catalyst and the recyclability.

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