SnO2/CdS NANOCOMPOSITES: SYNTHESIS, PROPERTIES AND APPLICATIONS

Abstract

In the present study SnO2/CdS nanocomposites were synthesized using different concentrations of precursors through thermal decomposition method. The nanocomposites were synthesized by two ways: (i) using multiple precursors for CdS i.e. cadmium acetate and thiourea, and (ii) using bis(thiourea) cadmium acetate complex as a single molecular precursor for CdS. The SnO2/CdS nanocomposites were then characterized by P-XRD, FT-IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA), BET-surface area measurements, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopic analysis (TEM). Congo red dye, a water pollutant and is hazardous to human life was successfully adsorbed by SnO2/CdS nanocomposites synthesized using multiple precursors. The adsorption efficiency of the nanocomposites is better as compared to pure SnO2 and CdS nanoparticles. Also, these nanocomposites were used for the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B and the performance of the nanocomposites synthesized using multiple precursors and single molecular precursor, was compared.