Optical, photocatalytic properties of novel CuS nanoplate-based architectures synthesised by a solvothermal route

CuS architectures were successfully prepared by a simple solvothermal route without any surfactant, in which copper nitrate trihydrate and element sulfur were used as reactants. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The optical properties of CuS architectres were investigated by Raman spectrometer, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectrophotometer. The results showed that the CuS architectures were hexagonal-structured phase and composed of intersectional nanoplates. UV-Vis absorption peaks of CuS architectures showed large blue shifts and PL spectrum exhibited a strong blue emission and a weak green emission. Photocatalytic activity of the CuS architectures was evaluated by measuring the decomposition rate of methylene blue solution under solar light. The CuS architectures show good photocatalytic activity. The effects of the molar ratio of Cu:S and the growth time on the synthesis of CuS crystalline were discussed and the growth mechanism of CuS nanoplate-based architectures was also proposed. (C) 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim