One-pot synthesis of ZnS/polymer composites in supercritical CO2–ethanol solution and their applications in degradation of dyes

A facile method to decorate the polymeric hollow spheres with ZnS nanoparticles has been presented. In this method, the precursors, Zn(Ac)2⋅H2O and CH3CSNH2, were first adsorbed by the polymer substrate in supercritical CO2–ethanol solution at 35 °C. Followed by heating the mixture at 100 °C for 2 h, ZnS/polymer composites were obtained. The as-produced ZnS/polymer composites were characterized by means of IR spectra, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. It was demonstrated that crystalline ZnS nanoparticles with size of 3–5 nm were uniformly decorated on the polymer spheres under suitable conditions. The resultant ZnS/polymer composites exhibited high efficiency for degrading eosin B, methyl orange and methylene blue under UV light irradiation.

Graphical abstractZnS nanoparticles were successfully decorated on hollow polymer spheres via a supercritical route. The resultant ZnS/polymer composites exhibited high efficiency for degrading methyl orange, methylene blue and eosin B.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide