Abstract
Chalcogenide-based semiconductors have attracted research interest due to their potential applications in electronics, energy storage devices, solar cells, and water treatment. In this study, g-C3N4 sheets/CdS (CNs/CdS) heterojunction nanocomposites were synthesized using the hydrothermal synthesis method. The CNs/CdS nanocomposites were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV-visible DRS techniques. The FESEM analysis confirmed the formation of CdS wild-berry like structure and successful attachment of CdS to the surface of g-C3N4 nanosheets. The PL results indicated reduced rate of electron-hole pair recombination for the 10% CNs/CdS. Upon application of photocatalytic decolourisation of AB-25 with 10% CNs/CdS, there was 99.3% dye removal efficiency achieved after 180 min. The CNs/CdS catalyst was observed to be stable after 4 repeated cycles, and this could be a pivotal character for real wastewater treatment application by this catalyst.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the department of physics (UNISA) for providing analysis facilities (FESEM, XRD, and PL), university of western cape also acknowledged and special thanks goes to the department of chemistry (UNISA) and the laboratory head Dr. Mkhize for providing space to carry out some of the experimental work.
Funding
This work is funded by the Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (iNanoWS) from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and National Research Foundation (NRF) (Grant no: 116370).
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M.P Sithole designed the project, lab work, and write up. P.M. Mafa did XRD analysis and revised the whole manuscript and responded to reviewers’ comments. A.T. Kuvarega supervised the work. E. Viljoen and L.A. de Kock co-supervised the work.
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This article is part of the topical collection: Nanotechnology Convergence in Africa, Guest Editors: Mamadou Diallo, Abdessattar Abdelkefi, and Bhekie Mamba
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Sithole, M.P., Mafa, P.J., de Kock, L. et al. Visible light active g-C3N4 sheets/CdS heterojunction photocatalyst for decolourisation of acid blue (AB-25). J Nanopart Res 23, 16 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-020-05114-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-020-05114-z