Effect of ligands on crystallography, morphology and photo-catalytic ability of ZnS nanostructures

Abstract

ZnS nanostructures have been synthesized using zinc complexes: Zn(ethyl xanthate)2] & [Zn(morpholine4-dithiocarbamate)2] from ligands potassium ethyl xanthate (KEX) and morpholine4-dithiocarbamate (MDTC) by solvothermal route of synthesis. Crystallographic and morphological analyses of synthesized ZnS nanostructures have been done by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron microscopy [Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)], respectively. Diffraction and electron microscope studies reveal the formation of hexagonal structured ZnS nanocrystals of various morphologies (nanosheets & nanorods). UV–vis. absorption studies have been carried for the detailed optical analyses. Photoluminescence (PL) study was carried out to check luminescence of synthesized ZnS nanostructures in blue region of electromagnetic spectrum. It has been reported that the morphology of synthesized nanostructures strongly depends upon the precursor complexes prepared from two different classes of ligands; potassium ethyl xanthate and morpholine4-dithiocarbamate. Photo-catalytic activity potential of the synthesized ZnS nanostructures has been tested in UV light using methylene blue (MB) dye as a test contaminant in aqueous media. About 88.49% and 87.96% of MB dye was photo-degraded by ZnS nanostructures synthesized from Zn(EX)2 [ where EX stands for ethyl xanthate] and Zn(MDTC)2, respectively.