Visible-light-induced photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B dye using a CuS/ZnS p-n heterojunction nanocomposite under visible-light irradiation

dc.contributor.authorMugumo, Rachel
dc.contributor.authorIchipi, Emmanuel O.
dc.contributor.authorTichapondwa, Shepherd Masimba
dc.contributor.authorChirwa, Evans M.N.
dc.contributor.emailevans.chirwa@up.ac.zaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2024-04-23T04:45:04Z
dc.date.available2024-04-23T04:45:04Z
dc.date.issued2023-08-03
dc.descriptionDATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : Data will be made available upon request to the corresponding author.en_US
dc.description.abstractThe aim of this work was to investigate a new, simple, one-pot combustion synthesis technique for creating sulphur-based CuS/ZnS p-n heterojunction nanocomposite photocatalysts. This study examined the photocatalytic activity and reusability of these nanocomposites in removing rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible-light irradiation. Various methods of characterisation were employed to determine the properties of the materials, including particle morphology, crystalline phases, and bandgap energy. The intrinsic reaction parameters, such as catalyst loading, the pH level of the solution, and initial pollutant concentration, were varied to establish the optimal photodegradation conditions. The results showed that a binary CuS/ZnS catalyst with a 10 g L1 loading, at pH 5, degraded 97% of 5 ppm RhB dye after 270 min of visible light irradiation. Additionally, this composite catalyst exhibited excellent chemical stability and reusability, achieving 83% RhB dye removal after five recycling runs. Scavenger tests identified the photogenerated holes (h+) and superoxide free radicals ( O2) as the primary reactive species responsible for degradation. This study provides valuable insight into the design of highly efficient nanomaterials for removing organic pollutants in wastewater, and a possible reaction mechanism is proposed.en_US
dc.description.departmentChemical Engineeringen_US
dc.description.librarianam2024en_US
dc.description.sdgSDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructureen_US
dc.description.sponsorshipNational Research Fund (NRF) of South Africa, the NRF Thuthuka Grant and Rand Water Chair in Water Utilisation.en_US
dc.description.urihttps://www.mdpi.com/journal/catalystsen_US
dc.identifier.citationMugumo, R.; Ichipi, E.; Tichapondwa, S.M.; Chirwa, E.M.N. Visible-Light-Induced Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B Dye Using a CuS/ZnS p-n Heterojunction Nanocomposite under Visible-Light Irradiation. Catalysts 2023, 13, 1184. https://DOI.org/10.3390/catal13081184.en_US
dc.identifier.issn10.3390/catal13081184
dc.identifier.issn2073-4344 (online)
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/95708
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherMDPIen_US
dc.rights© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.en_US
dc.subjectCuS/ZnSen_US
dc.subjectPhotocatalytic degradationen_US
dc.subjectp-n Heterojunctionen_US
dc.subjectThermal decompositionen_US
dc.subjectOne-pot combustionen_US
dc.subjectRhodamine B dyeen_US
dc.subjectVisible light irradiationen_US
dc.subjectSDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructureen_US
dc.titleVisible-light-induced photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B dye using a CuS/ZnS p-n heterojunction nanocomposite under visible-light irradiationen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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