Magnetic and photocatalytic properties of nano-sized sulfur-doped trirutile oxide, CuSb2O6

Abstract Sulfur-doped trirutile-structured CuSb2O6 was realized by single-step oxidation of Chalcostibite (CuSbS2) with the hydrogen peroxide solution. Its powder X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed the α-polymorphic form of CuSb2O6, with a crystallite size of 6 nm, corroborating well with tetragonal symmetry observed in lattice fringes and SAED pattern. The TEM-EDS analysis indicated sulfur doping in the sample. The dopant amount quantified using thermogravimetric and XPS analysis. The sulfide doping caused the reduction of some amounts of Cu2+ to Cu+ with a noticeable decrease in the bandgap as compared to undoped β-CuSb2O6. The positive slope in the Williamson-Hall plot of sulfur-doped sample implied tensile strain. The short-range antiferromagnetic interaction of Cu2+ was absent in the magnetic measurements of the sample. Instead, it displayed a paramagnetic behavior down to 2 K. Change in electronic structure coupled with the high surface area of 203 m2/g introduced catalytic property in the sample for the photodegradation of carcinogenic rhodamine 6G (Rh 6G) spanning four cycles consecutively. During these experiments, no alteration of catalyst structure was visible.