Abstract
In the present study, binary (Cu9S5 and SnS2) and ternary (Cu2SnS3—CTS) have been prepared by a one-pot thermal decomposition of copper(II) bis (N-methyl-N-paramethoxyphenyl) dithiocarbamate, dimethyltin(IV) bis (N-methyl-N-paramethoxyphenyl) dithiocarbamate, and the co-thermal decomposition of both complexes in oleylamine, respectively. The crystallinity and structural properties of the semiconductor nanoparticles were investigated using X-ray diffraction analyses, which confirmed the purity of the Cu9S5, SnS2, and Cu2SnS3 nanoparticles. Morphological studies using scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed hexagonal plate-like particles of the SnS2, quasi-spherical shapes for both Cu9S5 and Cu2SnS3 in the SEM images. These morphologies were also corroborated by the transmission electron microscopic analysis. Optical analysis by absorption spectroscopy showed absorption in the visible to near infra-red region, and an estimated band gap energy that were greater than their respective bulk. The visible-light photocatalytic evaluation of these nanomaterials showed good activities for the photo-enhanced degradation of methyl orange (MO), with the SnS2 and Cu2SnS3 exhibiting comparable properties (> 90% removal efficiency) and better than the Cu9S5 nanoparticles with < 90% efficiency. The high activity of SnS2 and Cu2SnS3 could be attributed to morphology as well as their structural properties. The method of synthesis showed a facile approach to obtaining these binary and ternary nanomaterials by simple use of precursor compounds, which may also be extended to other metal sulphides.