A zero-dimensional/two-dimensional Ag–Ag2S–CdS plasmonic nanohybrid for rapid photodegradation of organic pollutant by solar light

Jin Hyeok Lee, Yechan Lee, Chinna Bathula, Abhijit N. Kadam, Sang Wha Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Herein, the two synthesis strategies are employed for rational design of 0D/2DAg-Ag2S–CdS heterojunctions towards photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) under simulated solar light. As the first strategy, a ternary Ag–Ag2S–CdS nanosheet (NS) heterojunction was fabricated via combined cation exchange and photo-reduction (CEPR) method (Ag–Ag2S–CdS/CEPR). The second strategy employed coprecipitation (CP) method (Ag–Ag2S–CdS/CP). Strikingly, SEM, TEM and HR-TEM images are manifested the first strategy is beneficial for retaining the original thickness (20.2 nm) of CdS NSs with a dominant formation of metallic Ag, whereas the second strategy increases the thickness (33.4 nm) of CdS NSs with a dominant formation of Ag2S. The Ag–Ag2S–CdS/CEPR exhibited 1.8-fold and 3.5-fold enhancement in photocatalytic activities as compared to those of Ag–Ag2S–CdS/CP and bare CdS NSs, respectively. This enhanced photocatalytic activity could be ascribed to fact that the first strategy produces a high-quality interface with intimate contact between the Ag–Ag2S–CdS heterojunctions, resulting in enhanced separation of photo-excited charge carriers, extended light absorption, and enriched active-sites. Furthermore, the degradation efficiency of Ag–Ag2S–CdS/CEPR was significantly reduced to ∼5% in the presence of BQ (•O2 scavenger), indicating that •O2 is the major active species that can decompose MO dye under simulated solar light.

Original languageEnglish
Article number133973
JournalChemosphere
Volume296
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2022

Keywords

  • Cadmium sulfide nanosheets
  • Photocatalysis
  • Photochemical
  • Silver deposition
  • Zero-dimensional/two-dimensional

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