Preparation and characterization of CuxZn1-xS nanodisks for the efficient visible light photocatalytic activity

CuxZn1-xS nanodisks with varying Cu/Zn molar ratio were synthesized for the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) using a one-pot hydrothermal route. The CuxZn1-xS nanodisks were formed through the self-assembly of ZnS and CuS nanoparticles assisted with surfactant in hydrothermal system. The optimum photodegradation efficiency over Cu0.33Zn0.67S with the Cu/Zn molar ratio of 1:2 was higher than that of ZnS and CuS for the H2O2-assisted photodegradation of RhB under visible light irradiation. The stability of Cu0.33Zn0.67S was slightly deactivated after five cycle times. The ESR results suggested that abundant O2− radicals and less OH radicals participated in the visible light driven photocatalytic reaction of Cu0.33Zn0.67S.