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ARTICLE

Facile hydrothermal synthesis of a multifunctional copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) nanoparticle-coated sepiolite fiber composite: structural characterization and photocatalytic properties

M. Boonkam, P. Tamdee, P. Tongying^*

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand 73000

* Corresponding Author:

Chalcogenide Letters 2024, 21(4), 335-342. https://doi.org/10.15251/CL.2024.214.335

Received 14 February 2024; Accepted 23 April 2024;

Abstract

This work presents a facile hydrothermal synthesis method for fabricating a multifunctional composite of copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) nanoparticles coated onto sepiolite fibers. Morphological analysis confirms the firm attachment of approximately 10 nm CZTS nanoparticles onto the sepiolite surface. Elemental analysis verifies the presence of constituent elements from both CZTS and sepiolite, with a slight deficiency in Cu and an abundance of Zn observed. The compositional formula of CZTS in the composite is estimated as Cu_1.93Zn_1.05Sn_0.98S_4.04. Notably, the material exhibits a narrow band gap of 1.5 eV, enabling effective utilization of the entire visible light spectrum, making it promising for photocatalytic applications. BET nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements reveal a substantial surface area of approximately 85.720 m² /g, confirming the composite’s versatility and applicability, particularly in photocatalysis and adsorption processes. Additionally, X-ray diffraction analysis indicates reflections consistent with the crystal structures of kasterite CZTS and sepiolite, further confirming the composite’s composition. The multifunctional CZTS/Sepiolite composite demonstrates exceptional potential for simultaneous photocatalytic degradation and adsorption of organic pollutants, presenting a promising avenue for sustainable water treatment applications.

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Keywords

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