Publication

Abstract : This study explores the synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic performance of metal sulfide nanomaterials, specifically ZnS, Zn0.95Ni0.05S, and Zn0.95Ag0.05S, with an emphasis on the impact of transition metal doping on their photocatalytic efficiency. Utilizing the sol-gel method, we synthesized these nanomaterials and employed various advanced techniques to analyze their properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed alterations in lattice parameters and crystallite sizes due to doping, while Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) validated the chemical composition. Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) indicated enhanced light absorption in the doped samples. A photoluminescence (PL) spectrometer was employed to further investigate the optical behavior of the nanocatalyst. Specific surface area, porosity, morphological and compositional details were provided by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Photocatalytic performance was assessed by testing the degradation of Methylene Blue (MB), a model organic pollutant. Our results showed that the pure ZnS nanoparticles achieved the highest degradation rates, outperforming the doped variants. This study uniquely reports that common dopants such as Ni and Ag may negatively impact charge carrier utilization in ZnS, contradicting assumptions in existing literature. Thus, although doping can modify structural and optical properties, pure ZnS remains the most effective photocatalyst for environmental applications, emphasizing the need for careful optimization in doping strategies.