Natural sunlight irradiated flower-like CuS synthesized from DMF solvothermal treatment

doi:10.1007/s11706-016-0349-5

Front. Mater. Sci.

2016, Vol. 10

Issue (3) : 290-299 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-016-0349-5

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Natural sunlight irradiated flower-like CuS synthesized from DMF solvothermal treatment

Wei ZHAO(

),Zihao WANG,Lei ZHOU,Nianqi LIU,Hongxing WANG

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China

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Abstract

Three-dimensional CuS hierarchical crystals with high catalytic activity had been successfully fabricated using a facile solvothermal process. The CuS microparticles showed different flower-like morphology and good dispersion by optimizing reaction conditions. It was found that using N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as the solvent reagent in the proper temperature conditions was favorable for the growth of hierarchically structured CuS. The hexagonal flower-like CuS synthesized at 170°C for 60 min displayed broad-spectrum photocatalytic properties under ultraviolet (UV) and visible irradiation. The as-prepared CuS crystals exhibited good performance to decolorize methylene blue (MB) solution under visible light irradiation. The total organic carbon (TOC) removal of rhodamine B (RhB) solution was nearly 60% after 5 h of the natural sunlight irradiation, and the property was stable after testing over four recycles, demonstrating a potential application in waster water treatment.

Keywords photocatalysis CuS hierarchical structure natural sunlight irradiation

Corresponding Author(s): Wei ZHAO

Online First Date: 30 June 2016 Issue Date: 08 August 2016

Cite this article:

Wei ZHAO,Zihao WANG,Lei ZHOU, et al. Natural sunlight irradiated flower-like CuS synthesized from DMF solvothermal treatment[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2016, 10(3): 290-299.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/10.1007/s11706-016-0349-5
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/Y2016/V10/I3/290

Fig.1 XRD pattern of CuS synthesized from solvothermal process at 170°C for 1 h.

Fig.2 SEM images of as-prepared CuS hydrothermal treated for 1 h at different temperatures: (a) 160°C; (b) 165°C; (c) 170°C; (d) 180°C.

Fig.3 SEM images of as-prepared CuS synthesized at 170°C for different time periods: (a) 45 min; (b) 50 min; (c) 90 min. (d) Schematic illustration of the CuS yield amount at various solvothermal times.

Fig.4 SEM images of as-prepared CuS synthesized at 170°C using different heating rates: (a) 3°C/min from room temperature to 140°C, 5°C/min from 140°C to 170°C; (b) 5°C/min from room temperature to 140°C, 3°C/min from 140°C to 170°C. (c) EDS elemental analysis. (d) HRTEM image. (e) SAED image of the as-prepared CuS.

Fig.5 SEM images of CuS samples synthesized at 170°C/1 h with different PVP content: (a) 1 g PVP; (b) 0.5 g PVP. (c) Magnification image of CuS with 1 g PVP surfactant. (d) HRTEM image of the as-prepared CuS with 1 g PVP surfactant.

Fig.6 Schematic illustration of the formation mechanism of the CuS hierarchical structures.

Fig.7 (A) The degradation curves of MB over CuS photocatalysts: blank MB solution (a); MB solution with only H₂O₂ (b); MB solution with only hexagonal CuS (c); CuS with hexagonal flower shape+ H₂O₂ (d); CuS with ball flower shape+ H₂O₂ (e). (B) Photodegradation of CuS over MB under visible-light irradiation. (C) N₂ adsorption and desorption isotherms at 77 K and pore distribution of hexagonal CuS. (D) Ball flower-like CuS.

Fig.8 (a) The photodegradation (black line) and TOC removal (blue line) curves of RhB dye over CuS sample under natural sunlight irradiation. (b) Cycling runs for the photocatalytic RhB degradation in the presence of CuS and H₂O₂. (c) Color changes in RhB dye over CuS sample under natural sunlight irradiation.

Fig.9 (a) UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra of the samples. (b) Tauc plots of the corresponding CuS samples.

Fig.10 The schematic diagram illustrating the proposed degradation mechanism of organic pollutants over CuS photocatalyst.

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