Abstract
A surfactant-free hydrothermal technique was used to synthesize calcium (Ca2+) incorporated ZnS nanoparticles (ZnS:Ca). The structural, morphological, optical and microstructural properties of the produced nanoparticles are investigated by XRD, SEM, PL and XRF techniques, respectively. The XRD patterns revealed the preservation of the cubic phase after Ca2+ addition, and a decrease of the crystallite size. The SEM micrographs showed the formation of good shaped spherical particles, and evenly distributed. The ZnS:Ca photoluminescence emission bands were blue-shifted and broader than those of pristine ZnS. Finally, the photocatalytic activity of methylene orange (MO) was enhanced by Ca2+ incorporation. According to XRF measurements, the solubility limit of Ca2+ in ZnS lattice is found to be at 0.16% of Ca2+/Zn2+ mass ratio. This result can explain the saturation of the rate constant in the photocatalysis process.
Published Version
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