Synthesis of cactus-like zincoxysulfide (ZnO xS 1−x) nanostructures assisted by a task-specific ionic liquid and their photocatalytic activities

Abstract

A hydrothermal method has been employed to prepare cactus-like zincoxysulfide ZnO xS 1−x nanostructures with the assistance of a dicationic task-specific ionic liquid (TSIL), [mim]{(CH) 2} 3[imm](SCN) 2. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that this TSIL with the SCN anion has been used in place of conventional reagents as a source of S to prepare a ZnO xS 1−x nanostructure. The photocatalytic activities of the ZnO xS 1−x nanostructures have been compared using UV and visible lights. BET results showed that the surface areas and photocatalytic activities of cactus-like zincoxysulfide ZnO xS 1−x nanostructures were higher than those of other samples. ZnO xS 1−x nanostructures with cactus-like morphology exhibited a significant enhancement of photocatalytic activity toward the degradation of methyl orange (MO) as compared to other samples, as revealed by photoluminescence measurements. This could be attributed to enhanced oxygen vacancies and crystallite defects formed as a result of substitution of S 2− in the lattice of ZnO.