Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue with Co alloyed CdZnS nanoparticles

Abstract

In our present study, firstly; cadmium zinc sulfide (CdZnS) nanoparticles (NPs) with 1, 2, 5, 10% of Zn concentration were synthesized in aqueous solution by simple chemical co-precipitation method and their photocatalytic activity was investigated using the degradation of methylene blue under visible light in air at room temperature. It was found that CdZnS NPs with 2% of Zn concentration indicates the highest degradation efficiency compare to other Zn concentrations. CdZnS NPs with 2% of Zn concentration was symbolized as CdZnS_1. Later; 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 5, 10% of cobalt (Co) concentration was separately alloyed on the CdZnS_1 NPs. It was oberved that Co(5%):CdZnS NPs has the highest degradation efficiency. Structure, surface morphology, elemental analysis and optical properties of CdZnS_1 and Co (5%): CdZnS NPs 0were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray and UV-Vis absorption measurements, respectively. The results showed that Co doped CdZnS NPs can be employed as capable materials to ehance the photocatalytic activity.