High impact of thiol capped ZnS nanocrystals on the degradation of single and binary aqueous solutions of industrial azo dyes under sunlight

Abstract Sulfur zinc (ZnS) nanocrystals were prepared using an aqueous colloidal route with thioglycolic acid (TGA) as a stabilizer. These ZnS-TGA nanocrystals were used as a low-cost and environmental friendly alternative for the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) from aqueous solutions using sunlight irradiation. Structural and optical properties of nanocrystals were determined via X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopic, UV–Visible and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Results showed a blue shift of absorbance band and higher energy band gap values than bulk ZnS materials, which was in agreement with the quantum confinement effect. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of cubic phase of ZnS-TGA containing also a slight wurtzite phase. Calculated average size of ZnS nanocrystals by the Debye Scherrer relation was 3.5 nm. Characterization results showed the fixation of TGA on ZnS-NCs via sulphur and carboxylic functionalities on catalyst surface. Photoluminescence spectra obtained under excitation wavelength at 325 nm showed three emission bands (416, 441 and 484 nm), which were mainly related to band edge and defect-activated emissions. The photocatalytic activity of ZnS-TGA nanocrystals under sunlight irradiation to degrade tested MB and MO dyes and their mixture in aqueous solutions was evaluated. High dye degradation efficiency was achieved at a very short time (27 min) and this performance was attributed to the negative surface charge, surface area, surface defects and high dispersion of ZnS-TGA nanocrystals on the aquatic medium. Overall, this study demonstrates that these nanocrystals could be employed as low-cost nanocatalyst for the degradation of organic dyes in wastewater treatment.