Synthesis, characterization, photocatalytic effect of thiourea and thioglycolic acid on ZnO/CuS nanocomposites for degradation of Mordant black 11 dye

ZnO/CuS nanocomposite was synthesized by hydrothermal technique using two different sulfur source such as TU = thiourea and TA = thioglycolic acid. Pure ZnO and CuS (TU and TA) nanoparticles were synthesized, and a comparative analysis was performed. X-ray diffraction discloses the average crystalline size of the ZnO/CuS (TU and TA) to be 18 nm and 12 nm, respectively. HR-TEM exhibits a particle size of 27.50 nm and 30.50 nm for ZnO/CuS (TU) and ZnO/CuS (TA). Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis confirms the surface area of ZnO/CuS (TU) to be 1.246 m2/g and ZnO/CuS (TA) to be 11.086 m2/g. The band gaps were estimated to be 3.1 eV for ZnO/CuS (TU) and 1.6 eV and 2.64 eV for ZnO/CuS (TA). The photocatalytic activity of ZnO, ZnO/CuS (TU) and ZnO/CuS (TA) nanocomposites was investigated by the solar irradiation of mordant black 11 dye in an aqueous medium.