Enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance of ZnO/ZnS/CuS ternary nanocomposites

The ZnO/ZnS/CuS ternary nanocomposites (ZOSCTN) were synthesized via a three-step chemical method with ZnO/ZnS binary nanocomposites (ZOSBN) as the intermediate and ZnO nanoparticles (ZON) as the initial product. The structural, morphological and optical properties of ZON, ZOSBN and ZOSCTN were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy and Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. ZOSBN can maintain the morphology and size of ZON. However, after the introduction of the third component, ZOSCTN become blades-like with the thickness about 20-50 nm. Moreover, ZOSCTN has markedly improved visible light photocatalytic performance than ZON and ZOSBN because of the high solar absorption and heterostructures interfaces.