Photocatalytic Activity in PVA Capped CdS/ZnS Core/Shell Nanocomposites

Abstract

We report synthesis of PVA capped CdS/ZnS (Cadmium Sulphide/Zinc Sulphide) core/shell nanocomposites using a simple and cost effective chemical precipitation method. The synthesized samples were characterized using different characterization techniques. Results of UV-vis and PL spectroscopic analysis indicate formation of nanoparticles of CdS and CdS/ZnS whereas the XRD patterns show formation of cubic and hexagonal structure of CdS and ZnS Nanoparticles respectively. Results of TEM and SEM analysis show that, the synthesized Nanoparticles are more or less spherical in shape. The FTIR result confirms the formation of Cd-S and Zn-S bond in the CdS/ZnS core/shell structures. Results of photocatalytic study indicates that the CdS/ZnS core/shell nanocomposites shows excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Methyl Orange (MO) where it was degraded nearly 83% under UV irradiation.