Effect of capping ligands and reaction temperature on the structural, morphological, and photocatalytic properties of Cu2SnS3 nanostructures

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 981; p. 173734
• Main Authors: Meenakshisundaram, Sai Prasanna, Sridharan, Moorthy Babu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 25-04-2024
• Subjects: Copper tin sulfide; Electron Microscopy; Hot Injection Method; Nanostructures; Photocatalysis; Reaction Temperature; Hot Injection Method; Electron Microscopy; Nanostructures; Reaction Temperature; Copper tin sulfide; Photocatalysis
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2024.173734

Copper tin sulfide (CTS) nanostructures (NSs) were synthesized using different linear long-chain capping ligands such as oleic acid (OLA), oleyl alcohol (OLAL) and oleyl amine (OLM). The structural characterization results confirm the cubic crystal structure for CTS-OLA, CTS-OLAL and the hexagonal closed packed structure for CTS-OLM accompanied with secondary phases. Optical studies showed a broad absorbance over the visible region of the electromagnetic spectra for all CTS NSs which makes them potential photocatalytic candidates. The presence of ligands capped to the CTS NSs was confirmed by FT-IR analysis. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study revealed the nanorod morphology for CTS-OLA NSs, nanoflakes for CTS-OLAL NSs and nanospheres for OLM-mediated CTS NSs while SAED pattern showed an intense ring pattern confirming the polycrystallinity of CTS NSs thus complementing with XRD result. The catalytic efficiency of the as-prepared CTS NSs was evaluated by degrading standard methylene blue (MB) dye aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The CTS-OLA NSs have shown 95% degradation efficiency within 120 min of visible light illumination, which was better compared to CTS-OLAL (65% degradation) and CTS-OLM (56% degradation). OLA-functionalized CTS NSs were further studied by varying the reaction temperature and studying its influence catalytic performance of the CTS-OLA NSs. CTS-OLA NSs synthesized at 220 °C have a better catalytic activity in degrading the organic pollutants due to its better morphology and optical properties.
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•CTS nanostructures (NSs) of different morphologies were successfully obtained using different capping ligands.•XRD and Raman studies revealed the structure and UV–VIS–NIR studies showed the wide absorbance of all the CTS NSs.•TEM revealed nanorod morphology of CTS-OLA, nanoflake for CTS-OLAL and nanospheres for CTS-OLM.•CTS-OLA exhibit better degradation efficiency (95%) of MB solution within 120 min of visible light illumination.•CTS-OLA was studied by varying the synthesis temperature, CTS synthesized at 220 °C showed better degradation ability.