Size-controllable hydrothermal synthesis of ZnS nanospheres and the application in photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes

Herein, using histidine as the additive, well-dispersed ZnS nanospheres with the controllable size and large specific surface area were prepared successfully in large scale via a facile one-pot hydrothermal synthesis method. The as-prepared ZnS nanospheres exhibited strong photo absorption in the UV and visible light region. From the results, the as-prepared ZnS nanospheres prepared at 160 °C for 6 h could photocatalytically degrade the rhodamine B efficiently through the mediation of photo-generated hydroxyl radicals under UV light irradiation. These suggest that the ZnS nanospheres prepared in this study might be used as the potential photocatalysts to treat the organic pollutants efficiently.

► Successful hydrothermal synthesis of ZnS nanospheres. ► Facile adjustment of the size of the ZnS nanospheres. ► Effective photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes under UV light irradiation.