Tin Sulfide Research Articles

Prebaking of an SnS source with sulfur for achieving higher photovoltaic performance in VTD-SnS thin films for solar cells

We prepared a prebaked (SnS + S) source absorber which results in suppressing the deep level and interface defects. The device showed a 42% enhancement in the performance compared to the reference absorber-based device without prebaking.

Enhanced photocatalytic performance of SnS2 under visible light irradiation: strategies and future perspectives.

Tin(II) sulfide (SnS2) has emerged as a promising candidate for visible light photocatalytic materials. As a member of the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) family, SnS2 features a band gap of approximately 2.20 eV and a layered structure, rendering it suitable for visible light activation with a high specific surface area. However, the application of SnS2 as a visible light photocatalyst still requires improvement, particularly in addressing the high recombination of electrons and holes, as well as the poor selectivity inherent in its perfect crystal structure. Therefore, ongoing research focuses on strategies to enhance the photocatalytic performance of SnS2. In this comprehensive review, we analyze recent advances and promising strategies for improving the photocatalytic performance of SnS2. Various successful approaches have been reported, including controlling the reactive facets of SnS2, inducing defects in the crystal structure, manipulating morphologies, depositing noble metals, and forming heterostructures. We provide a detailed understanding of these phenomena and the preparation techniques involved, as well as future considerations for exploring new science in SnS2 photocatalysis and optimizing performance.

Highly sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of caffeine, theophylline and guaiacol in green tea, green coffee, coffee, and tea extracts using a SnS2 nanoflake-modified electrode

Tin(iv) sulfide (SnS2) nanoflakes modified glassy carbon electrode was utilized for the electrochemical detection of caffine, theophylline and guaiacol. This study was carried out using commercially available samples of green tea, green coffee, tea and coffee extracts.

Microstrain effects of laser-ablated Au nanoparticles in enhancing CZTS-based 1 Sun photodetector devices.

Copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) thin films were synthesized on soda lime glass using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at room temperature. Introducing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in a sandwich structure led to increased CZTS particle size and a shift in the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peak of the AuNPs, influenced by different laser energy levels. The absorption measurements revealed intriguing behavior across the visible and near-infrared (NIR) regions, making these films appealing for 1 Sun photodetectors. Furthermore, the presence of AuNPs in the sandwich structure reduced microstrain effects, measuring 1.94 × 10-3 compared to 3.38 × 10-3 in their absence. This reduction directly enhances carrier transport, which is particularly beneficial for accelerating the performance of photodetector devices. This effect of AuNPs also contributed to higher dielectric coefficients, further improving the photodetector performance. Under 1 Sun illumination conditions, this enhancement resulted in a rapid rising time of 95.4 ms, showcasing the potential for faster photodetection.

A Review on the Third-Generation Solar Cells: Model, Materials, and Performance.

The present solar cells – first and second generation solar cells are very expensive. They are formed from single crystal and poly-crystal silicon (Si) and Si base, CIGS, CdTe and III-V thin films respectively. This led to the idea of third generation photovoltaic modules. This paper presents works on different types of third generation solar cells. This includes organic photovoltaics (OPVs), copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS), perovskite solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), and quantum dot solar cells.

Design and Optimization of Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide (CZTS) Thin Film Solar Cell

Design and Optimization of Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide (CZTS) Thin Film Solar Cell

SILAR Deposition of Sns Thin Films for Possible Device Applications

Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) was used to deposit tin sulphide (SnS) thin films on glass substrates at temperature of 450C.Sodium thiosulphateNa2S2O3solution was used as the anionic precursor, tin chloride SnCl2 solution as the cationic precursor and EDTA as complexing agent. The samples were subjected to annealing at the temperature range of 2000C and 250oC). High transmittance values were obtained in both Samples C and D in the UV(70% -72%) and (75% - 89%) respectively atthe wavelength range of (350nm-400nm) which maintains linear characteristics through the visible to near infrared regions (NIR) of the electromagnetic spectrum. This high transmittance implies that it can be useful in the areas of solar energy and opto-electronic applications. The Energy band gap (Eg) is obtained using the relation (αhv)2= A (hv-Eg) where A is constant, hv is the photon energy, Eg is the energy band gap and α is the absorption coefficient. Direct band gap value of 2.90±0.05eV is obtained for sample C while a direct band gap of 2.70±0.05eV is obtained for sample D. The two samples have average band gap of 2.8±0.05eV.

Enhancing the optoelectronic performance of CZTS thin films through cobalt doping via nebulizer-assisted spray pyrolysis technique

In the current investigation, the influence of cobalt doping on the optoelectronic performance of Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide (CZTS) thin films is analyzed. An economic route of synthesis is achieved by employing nebulizer-assisted spray pyrolysis technique. The cobalt concentration is varied from 1 to 5 wt%. The structural, morphological, optical and electrical studies were also made to understand the underlying mechanism that supports the enhancement of photo detecting-capability of these films. It is observed from the XRD studies that initially the doped cobalt replaces zinc in the CZTS lattice. When the concentration of Co was increased beyond 3 wt%, in addition to CZTS we could observe the phase of Copper Cobalt Tin Sulfide (CCTS). At higher concentration the samples exhibit the presence of two phases simultaneously with CCTS as dominant phase. Morphological images from SEM show larger distinct particles for 3% Co doped CZTS. A better absorption in the visible region is witnessed for all the films. The band gap was found to increase with the increase in the concentration of the dopant atom upto 3 wt%. The photoluminescence analysis supports a near-band edge emission around 735 nm. The photocurrent was found to be maximum for 3% Co doped CZTS sample. The rise time and fall time of Co-doped samples becomes halved when compared with the pristine sample. Our research demonstrates the potential applications of CZTS:Co thin films in the realm of photodetectors.

Understanding and Comparing the Stability of Water- Versus NMP-Based Tin(IV)Sulfide Electrodes Using Post-Mortem Analysis

The market for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has experienced a tremendous growth since 1991, when the first LIB was commercialised by Sony, and it is expected to grow even further. The reason for this upward trend is on the one hand the improvement in performance, specifically in energy density and cyclability, and on the other hand the world’s increase in energy demand. LIBs are now able to power not only small electronic devices but also electric vehicles and stationary energy storage systems.In addition to the increased need for batteries with high energy densities, environmental aspects must also be considered. Firstly, commercial LIBs contain critical raw materials (CRM) such as Li, Co, and graphite which are often concentrated in a few areas of the world and are sometimes mined using techniques which exploit both humans and the planet. Secondly, the use of toxic chemicals such as N-methyl-2-pyrollidone (NMP) in electrode manufacturing raises concerns on the degree of sustainability of the product. Furthermore, in order to reduce the CO2 emissions and achieve climate-neutrality by 2050, the EU (BATT4EU) has set goals regarding energy densities, battery life time and safety. Desired values for gravimetric and volumetric energy densities for Generation 3 LIBs are considered 350-400 Wh/kg and 750-1000 Wh/l respectively for 2000+ cycles. These energy values can be achieved by either developing cathodes with higher voltage and/or by developing cathodes and anodes with higher specific capacity. The latter approach together with sustainability aspects are addressed in this work. Tin(IV)sulfide (SnS2) has been investigated in the last few years as one of the most promising anode materials for Li-ion batteries due to its high theoretical specific capacity of 1209 mAhg-1 compared to commonly used graphite (372 mAhg-1). However, its theoretical reversible capacity is 644 mAhg-1 due to the conversion of SnS2 to Li2S and Sn in the first discharge. Furthermore, SnS2 can be processed using water as a solvent in place of previously mentioned NMP. This way, not only the electrochemical performance, but also the environmental friendliness, as well as costs during fabrication can be improved.This study focusses on the optimization of water-based slurry processing using SnS2 as active material, and water-soluble binders such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) in comparison to NMP-based electrodes using Polyvinyl difluoride (PVDF) as a binding agent.In this work, four different electrode compositions were investigated, namely SnS2/C45/CMC:SBR(1:1) in a 90/5/5 ratio and a 80/10/10 ratio, as well as a comparative system consisting of SnS2/C45/PVDF in the same ratios as the previous electrode. All electrode compositions showed an initial specific capacity of ~550 mAh/g, however the cycling stability was in the order of H2O-80:10:10 > H2O-90:5:5 > NMP-80:10:10 > NMP-90:5:5 (Figure 1), with the best water-based electrodes reaching 80% state-of-health (SoH) after 200 cycles.In order to understand the degradation mechanisms occurring during cycling and to elucidate the impact of H2O- and NMP-based processing on electrochemical performance, techniques such as Raman, SEM, XRD, XPS, and EIS were performed on pristine electrodes, on electrodes after first discharge (formation cycle), as well as on samples at 80% SoH. Furthermore, in-situ dilatometry was conducted to measure the linear change in length of the electrodes in the direction perpendicular to the electrode surface during cycling. Changes in crystal structure, morphology, surface chemistry (i.e. SEI formation), interface and charge transfer resistance, and volume expansion were correlated with the electrochemical performance.(Attached: Figure 1: Comparative graph of galvanostatic cycling with potential limitation (GCPL) of water- and NMP-based electrodes with varying ratios of active material/conductive agent/binder showing the development of capacity and coulombic efficiency as a function of cycle number) Figure 1

Phase Controlled Synthesis and Characterization of Large Area 2D Tin Sulfides

Motivated by the increasing need to shift the energy sector from fossil fuels towards renewables, two-dimensional (2D) layered material systems have been explored as potential candidates for energy harvesting and storage applications.[1] In particular, 2D tin sulfides (SnS and SnS2) have emerged as promising candidate materials for photovoltaic and battery applications due to their high earth abundance and non-toxic nature.[2,3] The dual valency of tin and the numerous oxidation states of sulfur can result in three thermodynamically stable polymorphic phases namely SnS, SnS2 and Sn2S3. Thus, phase-controlled synthesis of SnSx materials can be challenging. A detailed investigation of material properties of SnSx is essential to correlate the structure property relationship. Gas phase synthesis such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) enables the tuning of material phase by choosing suitable precursor chemistries, substrates as well as varying the process parameters such as temperature and pressure. In this study we have developed a new CVD process for the synthesis of SnSx thin films on Si and mica substrates using a combination of a metalorganic precursor for tin and elemental sulfur under mild process conditions. Complementary thin film analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were performed. While XRD and Raman revealed the fabrication of phase pure crystalline SnS2 on both Si(100) and mica, XPS indicated inclusion of SnS species that couldn’t be identified unambiguously via XRD (Figure 1). A band gap of 2.2 eV estimated via UV-Vis spectroscopy further confirms the deposition of phase pure crystalline SnS2 layers. These new findings are very promising and pave a way to grow large area and phase controlled SnSx layers that can be suitable for potential functional applications such as batteries, photovoltaics, sensors etc. Figure 1

Incorporation of (Co-Ni)P Based Electrocatalysts in Tin Sulfide Photoelectrodes

Ever since the industrial revolution, available energy sources have been closely related to technological development. Therefore, energy has become the main component towards the productivity of industrialized nations. The indiscriminate use of fossil fuel has produced a gradual decrease of oil reserves that affects the worldwide price of this product. The above-mentioned causes uncertainty because price fluctuations in the international value of oil directly affects nation economies.The development of industrialized societies has, unfortunately, proved to be non-sustainable, due to its strong dependency of fossil fuels and the environmental damage produced by the combustion that this kind of fuel generates. Consequently, this has led to a search of alternative energy sources, highlighting technologies based on molecular hydrogen (carrier energy), and photovoltaic devices. However, nowadays the high cost of production of molecular hydrogen makes it necessary to search new alternatives in order to produce it. Thus, photoelectrochemical water splitting becomes an attractive option that should be considered, due to the use of solar energy as a renewable energy source [1]. However, in photoelectrochemical systems, photocurrent loss is one of the biggest problems present. This is a consequence of the recombination process, either of electron-hole pairs or majority carriers with intermediaries bounded to the electrode surface. The latter is caused by slow transfer kinetics between the carriers photogenerated and the reaction intermediaries. On the other hand, the use of electrocatalyst (materials that catalyzes an electrochemical reaction) allows reduce the electric energy consumption of the electrochemical reactions involved in this process. In this way, for electrocatalytic water splitting, studies are centered on electrocatalysts for OER (anodic reaction) and electrocatalysts for HER (cathodic reaction). Thus, electrocatalysts can be a key issue in the study of light-driven overall water splitting systems [2].In this study, the synthesis of different electrocatalysts based on CoP and NiP was carried out through a hydrothermal procedure following by a thermal phosphorization reaction. The electrocatalysts obtained were characterized through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and polarization curves. These characterization techniques confirm the formation of different CoxNi(1-x)P compounds (where 1 ≥ x ≥ 0) showing in some cases an improvement in the kinetic parameters of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In this way, the best performance (Co-Ni)P electrocatalysts were deposited on a SnS surface (p-type semiconductor), which was electrodeposited from an acidic solution employing SnSO4 and Na2S2O3 as tin and sulfur precursors, respectively. The deposition of the electrocatalysts was carried out through spin-coating technique, employing an ethanolic suspension of the (Co-Ni)P compounds. The SnS surface modification with the (Co-Ni)P based electrocatalysts was confirmed through SEM images. Thus, the modified SnS was employed as a photocathode in a photoelectrochemical cell in order to study its performance as an efficient photoelectrode in the hydrogen evolution reaction. In comparison with the unmodified SnS photoelectrode, an improvement in the photoelectrode stability was observed, which is attributed to the presence of electrocatalysts in the SnS surface.Acknowledgement This study was supported by Fondecyt (Chile) project 1210548References A. Grimes, O.K. Varghese, S. Ranjan, Light, water, hydrogen. The solar generation of hydrogen by water photoelectrolysis, Springer, New York, 2008.M. Peter, K.G. Upul Wijayantha, Photoelectrochemical water splitting at semiconductor electrodes: Fundamental problems and new perspectives, ChemPhysChem. 15 (2014) 1983–1995. Figure 1

Influence Annealing Process on Structural and Optical Properties of SnS Thin Films

Thin film technology has helped offer an understanding of the crystalline structure of substances, further to the characteristics of electronic transitions and how they are used effectively in different applications. This research focused on the effect of the process of annealing on the structural and optical characteristics of tin sulfide (SnS) thin films. The technique of thermal evaporation was used to synthesize the film samples under a vacuum of about 10–7 mbar. The coated SnS thin films were annealed at 200 °C and the structural and optical characteristics parameters, such as absorbance and transmittance, as well as optical bandgap and band-tail energies in the range )300–1150( nm, were discussed. Under the influence of the annealing process, the average crystal size changed from 14 nm to 11 nm. The energy gap value increased from 1.53 eV to 1.85 eV, while Urbach energy was seen to reduce from 0.913 eV for fabricated samples to be 0.824 eV after the annealing process.

In–situ growth of flake SnS in three–dimensional hierarchical porous carbon boosting lithium storage performance

As a kind of superior performance anode material for lithium–ion batteries (LIBs), tin sulfide (SnS) still faces pressing issues such as conspicuous volume expansion and inferior rate performance in the reaction process. To effectively improve such pressing issues, this study presents a three–dimensional (3D) hierarchical porous carbon (HPC) and subtly takes flake SnS growing in situ on it. The 3D HPC has excellent interconnected porosity and different diameters of aperture, which play the role of bicontinuous transport of electrons and ions, and comprehensively improve the SnS electrochemical performance. In particular, the SnS@HPC anode delivers an excellent discharge capacity of 917.6 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g−1 current density and maintains a cycling stability with 500.7 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at 2 A g−1 current density. More importantly, SnS@HPC||LiFePO4 full–cells also have excellent rate performance and cycling stability.

Boosted visible-light photocatalysis via p-n heterojunction synergy in 3D tin Sulfide-Graphitic carbon nitride nanohybrids

Creating superior nanohybrids with a narrow band gap to harness a larger portion of the solar spectrum is a contemporary necessity. In this study, we utilized a streamlined solvothermal approach to develop a three-dimensional, flower-like tin sulfide (3DF-SnS2) which was integrated atop graphitic nitride layers (g-C3N4). Using a suite of standardized characterization techniques, we delved deep into understanding the design intricacies, structural aspects, photophysical properties, chemical interplay, and surface dynamics of the produced nanohybrids. A noteworthy enhancement in the photocatalytic activity was observed in the p-n heterojunction (3DF-SnS2/g-C3N4) when tested under visible light using the benchmark organic pollutant, Rhodamine B (RhB). When pitted against other nanohybrids from this study, the optimized 3DF-SnS2/g-C3N4 structure displayed a remarkable aptitude for RhB degradation. This was largely due to its adept ability to segregate photo-generated charges efficiently and the harmonious synergy between the 3D and 2D structures, streamlining the charge transfer processes. This commendable photocatalytic efficacy can be attributed to several factors. First, band gap narrowing, the hybrid structure successfully reduces its band gap, allowing for a broader spectrum of solar energy absorption. Second, harmonized charge separation, the interplay between the 3D flower and the 2D sheet structures ensures an effective and efficient separation of photo-generated charges, optimizing their availability for catalytic reactions. 3D/2D Interface Dynamics: The interaction between the 3D floral configuration and the 2D sheet enhances charge mobility, further boosting efficiency. Third, enhanced surface area, the 3D flower-like design of SnS2, in conjunction with the planar nature of g-C3N4, offers abundant active sites for photocatalytic reactions.

Efficiency improvement of Cu(In(1−x)Ga x )Se2 solar cell using copper barium tin sulfide as back surface field layer and bandgap grading technique

This work proposes the simulation of graded –based solar cell with copper barium tin sulfide (CBTS) compounds as a back surface field (BSF) layer using the SCAPS-1D software. The CBTS BSF layer reduces the charge carrier losses on the back contact side and creates an extra BSF that helps in extracting holes toward the back contact. To utilize the maximum spectrum absorption range, three different grading configurations were analyzed by varying the stoichiometry of . This grading technique significantly improves the device performance such as open circuit voltage (V oc), short circuit current density (J sc), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency by changing the Ga content in the CIGS material. Furthermore, the impact of interface defect recombination velocity at the WSSe/graded-CIGS interface, acceptor density, and bulk defect in the CIGS layer on the device’s performance have been analyzed. The insertion of CBTS as a BSF layer and the bandgap grading technique yield a maximum efficiency of 31.08% for the proposed solar cell. These results will be helpful in the fabrication of highly efficient bandgap graded-CIGS solar cells.

New insights into visible light active SnS semiconductor for the elimination of methylene blue: RSM and DFT approaches

In this study, a response surface methodology (RSM) based on a central composite design (CCD) was performed by varying five pivotal variables: concentration of pollutant (mg/L), mass of catalyst (g), time (min), temperature (°C), and pH to evaluate the degradation efficiency of Methylene Blue (MB) using nanostructured SnS under visible light irradiation. The quadratic model displayed a notable level of reliability and fitness, as evidenced by its R2 value of 0.925. The optimized conditions obtained (Concentration of pollutant: 13.38 mg/L, mass of catalyst: 0.09 g, irradiation time: 25.26 min, temperature: 47.34 °C and pH: 8.36) yielded a degradation efficiency of 99 %, which is highly remarkable. Furthermore, based on density functional theory (DFT), the adsorption energy (Eads), charge transfer, and density of states (DOS) are investigated to study the application of tin sulfide as an adsorbent for Methylene Blue adsorption. When the MB molecule was positioned in a horizontal configuration at a distance of 3.136 Å from SnS, the significant adsorption energy of −3.22 eV was obtained. Due to the bond formation between tin atoms of SnS and carbon atoms of MB, it can be stated that there is a strong chemical interaction between SnS and MB molecule in this configuration. Regarding vertical orientation, adsorption energy was obtained to be −0.45 eV and no sign of any bond formation or breaking was observed, indicating that the adsorption process may be physisorption. The computational and experimental results proved that SnS is a promising candidate for MB adsorption and degradation.

Tin Sulfide Nanoparticles as a p-Type Semiconductor Material: Synthesis and Characterization

In this paper, the synthesis and characterization of tin sulfide as a p-type semiconductor material are reported. The low-cost, straightforward use of the transparent conductive tin sulfide technique of chemical bath deposition. The pH levels (7, 8, 9, and 10) were changed while maintaining a fixed bath temperature to create the tin sulfide nanoparticles. XRD, FTIR, and UV-visible were all used to look at the tin sulfide nanoparticles used in this study and learn about their structure and how they move light. Created via chemical bath deposition at various pH values to examine how pH affects the characteristics of the nanoparticles. Tin sulfide structural analysis and crystalline size are revealed by its X-ray diffraction pattern, and both are shown to be affected by changes in pH. Correspondingly, for pH 7, pH 8, pH 9, and pH 10. Tauc plot was used to determine the SnS nanoparticles' optical bandgap energies. From pH 7 to pH 10, it was noticed that the size of the SnS nanoparticle crystallite decreased. It was shown that the quantum confinement effect makes the band gap energy of SnS nanoparticles go up as the sizes of the crystallites get smaller. FTIR spectra confirm the dominating bond stretching of sulfur (S) and tin (Sn) atoms. The SnS nanoparticles generated with enhanced optical characteristics might be employed as an absorber layer in the development of SnS-based heterojunction solar cells, according to optical characterization, which demonstrates that the direct energy band gap (Eg), which is seen to rise with increasing pH values, is increasing with pH values.

Synthesis and characterization of lithium-doped copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) thin films

The non-toxic nature and remarkable optoelectronic properties of kesterite (Cu2ZnSnS4 and CZTS) make CZTS a potential candidate for solar cell absorber layer material. Since alkali metal doping has shown a performance boost of active layers of solar cells, this work investigates the effects of significant lithium doping on sol-gel-produced CZTS thin films. CZTS- and lithium (Li)-doped CZTS thin films were prepared using the spin coating technique. The variation of structural, morphological, and optical properties of CZTS due to Li-doping has been studied by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and UV–visible spectroscopy techniques. All the synthesized LixCu2−xZnSnS4 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6) films showed fine crystallinity with average crystallite sizes of 4.745, 6.013, 6.255, and 6.404 nm, respectively. The average grain size decreases from 0.336 to 0.310 µm via increasing Li concentration. The inclusion of Li increased the bandgap energy ranges from 1.5 to 1.808 eV. The Li0.6Cu1.4ZnSnS4 thin showed the highest absorption coefficient of 3.505 × 104 cm−1 among all the prepared thin films. A high optical conductivity over 1014 s−1 was observed for CZTS, which further increased with an increased Li concentration. The synthesized structures showed enhanced characteristics suitable for solar cell application.

Exploration of thioacetamide molar concentration on the physical properties of chemically deposited tin sulfide thin films

Exploration of thioacetamide molar concentration on the physical properties of chemically deposited tin sulfide thin films

Strongly coupled design of zinc oxide-nanorods/copper tin sulfide-nanoflowers nanostructures: An electrochemical study in 4-nitrochlorobenzene detection

Developing efficient electrode materials for detecting 4-nitrochlorobenzene (4-NCB) is highly desirable for living organisms and environmental safety. Herein, we designed a hierarchical 1D-2D nanostructure of zinc oxide nanorods@copper tin sulfide nanoflowers (ZnO-NRs@CTS-NFs) by a facile hydrothermal synthesis route for electrochemical detection of 4-NCB. The ZnO-NRs@CTS-NFs modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performance for 4-NCB, much higher than that of bare GCE, ZnO-NRs/GCE, and CTS-NFs/GCE. Such a desirable electrocatalytic performance is attributed to the large surface area, rich active sites, fast electron transfer through local pn junctions of CTS NFs on ZnO NRs, and the synergistic effect of the as-prepared ZnO-NRs@CTS-NFs nanocomposite. Under optimum conditions, the fabricated ZnO-NRs@CTS-NFs/GCE provides a trace-level detection limit with a wide detection range and high sensitivity. Besides, the fabricated electrochemical sensor displays good selectivity and reproducibility for 4-NCB detection. The practical application of the ZnO-NRs@CTS-NFs modified GCE exhibits satisfactory results in determining 4-NCB in river water, pond water, and industrial wastewater. These results demonstrate that the as-prepared ZnO-NRs@CTS-NFs nanostructures might be one of the most promising electrode materials for 4-NCB detection.