Tailored Plasmonic Microspheres: Fabrication, Characterization and Harvesting Visible Light for Photocatalytic Removal of Organic Pollutants

Abstract The development of highly efficient photocatalysts is critical for addressing environmental pollution. This work synthesized zinc sulfide microspheres (ZSMs) via a hydrothermal process and subsequently functionalized with plasmonic silver/silver phosphate nanoparticles (AAs) using a one-step deposition-precipitation method. Structural analysis through Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD) confirmed the formation of ZSMs with a zinc blende cubic structure, while AAs exhibited a body-centered cubic phase. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to confirm the successful deposition of AAs on the ZSMs by identifying key chemical bonds. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) revealed a uniform distribution of AAs on the ZSMs. Harnessing the plasmonic properties of silver, the nanocomposite demonstrated enhanced photocatalytic activity under both visible light and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. This hybrid system was evaluated for the degradation of common organic pollutants, including tetracycline (TC) antibiotics and methyl orange (MO) dye, showcasing its ability to efficiently degrade these contaminants under visible light and UV irradiation. The findings emphasize the potential of ZSMs/AAPs nanocomposite as versatile and sustainable photocatalysts for the abatement of environmental pollutants.

کلیدواژه ها:

ZnS Microspheres ، Ag/Ag۳PO۴ Nanoparticles ، Photocatalytic Performance ، Visible Light ، UV Irradiation ، Organic Pollutants.