Controlled synthesis of CuS caved superstructures and their application to the catalysis of organic dye degradation in the absence of light†
Abstract
3-D CuS materials have attracted attention due to their unique catalytic properties. These materials are generally synthesized by the template method; however, this process is time-consuming, complex, and results in low catalytic activity. In this paper, we describe a new method for the synthesis of monodisperse and highly homogeneous CuS caved superstructures with a variety of shapes and sizes. Our synthesis was accomplished in 2.5 h by a simple direct solvothermal reaction of CuSO4 with sulfur powder under normal pressure, and achieved by the reduction of acetaldehyde produced from ethylene glycol (EG) during the heating process. We show that the size and morphology of CuS products can be tuned by adjusting the molar ratios of reactants, reaction temperature and preheating temperature. The CuS caved superstructures prepared were highly catalytic, as shown by examining the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in the absence of light through the oxidation of hydroxide radicals produced from H2O2 in the catalytic reaction. This shows that the CuS catalyst prepared by our novel method has efficient catalytic activity, making it a cost-effective and convenient method for the treatment of dye-contaminated wastewater.
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