Issue 14, 2023

Development of hierarchical copper sulfide–carbon nanotube (CuS–CNT) composites and utilization of their superior carrier mobility in efficient charge transport towards photodegradation of Rhodamine B under visible light

Abstract

In this work, the synthesis of visible light sensitive copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles and their composites with carbon nanotubes (T-CuS) via a solvothermal technique is reported. The synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) and their composites were significantly characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the crystallinity, microstructures, photo-absorption, photo-excitation, thermal stability and surface area of CuS was investigated. The current–voltage (I vs. V) characteristics of both CuS and T-CuS based Schottky diodes were measured to determine the charge transport parameters like photosensitivity, conductivity, mobility of charge carriers, and transit time. The photocatalytic performance of bare CuS and T-CuS in the decomposition of Rhodamine B dye was studied using a solar simulator. The T-CuS composite showed higher photocatalytic activity (94%) compared to bare CuS (58%). The significance of charge carrier mobility in transferring photo-induced charges (holes and electrons) through complex networks of composites and facilitating the photodegradation process is explained. Finally, the reactive species responsible for the Rhodamine B degradation were also identified.

Graphical abstract: Development of hierarchical copper sulfide–carbon nanotube (CuS–CNT) composites and utilization of their superior carrier mobility in efficient charge transport towards photodegradation of Rhodamine B under visible light

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
29 мар 2023
Accepted
30 май 2023
First published
31 май 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Nanoscale Adv., 2023,5, 3655-3663

Development of hierarchical copper sulfide–carbon nanotube (CuS–CNT) composites and utilization of their superior carrier mobility in efficient charge transport towards photodegradation of Rhodamine B under visible light

M. Das, D. Das, S. Sil and P. P. Ray, Nanoscale Adv., 2023, 5, 3655 DOI: 10.1039/D3NA00204G

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