Visible active narrow/narrow band gap CuO/Cu2SnS3 nanoheterostructures as efficient nanophotocatalysts

Abstract

Binary metal oxide/ternary metal sulphide based nanoheterostructures, such as CuO/Cu2SnS3, were prepared via a modified hydrothermal route. The prepared nanoheterostructures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray powder diffractometer, XPS, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, isoelectric point, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller techniques. The XPS results revealed the successful incorporation of Cu+/Cu2+ with different ratios. The prepared heterostructures were tested as solar active photocatalysts for Methylene Blue (MB) photodegradation. The CuO/Cu2SnS3 (20% Cu2SnS3/80% CuO) photocatalytic results exhibited a high photodegradation efficiency (90%) after 60 min. In addition, the photonic efficiency values (ζ) were calculated to be 15.9%, 44%, and 61.4% for CuO, Cu2SnS3, and CuO/Cu2SnS3 nanoheterostructures, respectively. In addition, the reactive oxidative species were detected by the trapping experiments to get a clear insight about the photocatalytic reactivity factors. Total organic carbon (TOC) was conducted to confirm the safe photodegradation of MB dye without the formation of colorless hazardous (95.5% TOC removal). Based on the electronic band structure, the mechanism of photodegradation was investigated. The currently investigated heterostructure system is narrow/narrow bandgap, which fulfills the two contradictory conditions in terms of high solar photocatalytic activity and overcomes the rapid recombination process.