Novel Cu1‐xZnxS (x=0,0.01, ..., 0.1) Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Spectroscopic Analysis, Photocatalytic and Anticancer Activities.

Abstract: CuS (CS) and Cu1‐xZnxS (CZS) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized for the first time by a hydrothermal method from decomposition of tris(thiourea) copper (I) sulphate complex with zinc nitrate hydrate for 8 hours at 140 °C. The products have been identified by using X‐Ray diffraction analysis (XRD). These XRD patterns showed that the CS and CZS nanoparticles have a well‐ordered covellite structure with high purities. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) showed that by increasing dopant concentration, the size of Cu1‐xZnxS (x=0.01, 0.05, 0.1) nanoparticles is increased. Optical properties and band gaps were calculated with diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) and photoluminescence (Pl), so nanoparticles with high dopant concentration (x=10%) had less band gap values. In photocatalyst studies, the CZS (x=10%) species can remove 95% Methylene Blue (MB) in the presence of H2O2 under UV light in 90 minutes. Furthermore, the CZS (x=1% ‐ 10%) NPs have excellent potential to eliminate of Hep G2 cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]