Synthesis Of Bismuth Sulfide Nanostructures For Photodegradation Of Organic Dye.

Bismuth sulfide nanorods (Bi2S3-NR) and nanoflowers (Bi2S3-NF) have been synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method and their potentiality for the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light exposure have been evaluated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the formation of Bi2S3 in the pure orthorhombic phase. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images confirm the synthesis of bismuth sulfide in the morphology of nanorods and hierarchical nanostructures (nanoflowers). A two fold enhancement in the photocatalytic activity of Bi2S3-NF in comparison to Bi2S3-NR has been demonstrated. This enhancement in the photocatalytic activity is attributed to the high rate of separation of photogenerated charge carriers in the Bi2S3-NF due to its hierarchical structure as compared to Bi2S3-NR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]