Structural studies and photocatalytic degradation of brilliant green by dodecylamine capped tin sulphide nanocrystals

Abstract

Tin sulphide (SnS) nanoparticles were synthesized from five tin(II) dithiocarbamate single-source precursors. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns of the SnS nanoparticles revealed orthorhombic herzenbergite phase of tin sulphide. SEM images of the SnS nanoparticles showed rough, smooth, flaky agglomerates and irregular morphologies. The bandgap energy of the nanoparticles estimated from Tauc plots are in the range 2.27–2.71 eV. The as-prepared SnS nanoparticles were used as nanophotocatalysts for the degradation of brilliant green under visible light irradiation. The results showed that the as-prepared SnS nanoparticles are efficient photocatalysts for the degradation of brilliant green with the highest degradation efficiency of 93% for SnS4 after 120 min. The as-prepared SnS nanoparticles showed good photostability in the recyclability studies.