Issue 20, 2014

A type-II semiconductor (ZnO/CuS heterostructure) for visible light photocatalysis

Abstract

Type-II semiconductors with p–n heterojunctions have been fabricated by decorating CuS nanostructures on the surface of ZnO nanotubes with the help of a wet-chemical method at low temperature. We are reporting the enhanced visible light photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO/CuS heterostructures. CuO nanostructures were synthesized on the surface of ZnO nanotubes and then the CuO nanostructures were converted to CuS at 80 °C to generate the ZnO/CuS heterostructures. These ZnO/CuS heterostructures efficiently decompose methylene blue upon irradiation of visible light at room temperature. A study of the mechanism suggests that the enhanced photocatalytic activity is due to the formation of ZnO/CuS junctions, which leads to the efficient separation of photoinduced carriers.

Graphical abstract: A type-II semiconductor (ZnO/CuS heterostructure) for visible light photocatalysis

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
31 Dec 2013
Accepted
24 Feb 2014
First published
25 Feb 2014

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014,2, 7517-7525

Author version available

A type-II semiconductor (ZnO/CuS heterostructure) for visible light photocatalysis

M. Basu, N. Garg and A. K. Ganguli, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014, 2, 7517 DOI: 10.1039/C3TA15446G

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