Bismuth Sulphide (Bi2S3) Nanotubes as an Efficient Photocatalyst for Methylene Blue Dye Degradation

Well-crystalline bismuth sulphide (Bi2S3) nanotubes were synthesized by simple and facile solvothermal process without use of any capping agent or surfactant. The prepared nanotubes were characterized in detail using several techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) emission spectroscopy. The specific surface area was calculated using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. The detailed studies revealed that the nanotubes are grown in very high density and possessing well-crystallinity. Further, the prepared nanotubes were used as efficient photocatalyst for the photocatalytic degradation of highly hazardous methylene blue dye under ultra-violet light irradiation. The nanotubes exhibited very good photocatalytic performance towards the photo degradation of methylene blue dye and its simulated dye bath effluent under ultra-violet light irradiation. The reaction kinetics of photodegradation of the dye was also studied and it was observed that the reaction followed a pseudo first order kinetics.