Cr2S3-Co3O4 on polyethylene glycol-chitosan nanocomposites with enhanced ultraviolet light photocatalysis activity, antibacterial and antioxidant studies

A novel chromium sulfide-cobalt oxide nanostructures and decorated on Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)-chitosan (CS) nanocomposites as catalyst was synthesized by a facile method, and characterized by XRD, SEM, UV–Vis and XPS spectrum. The as-prepared Cr2S3-Co3O4/PEGCS composites represented the photo-decompose efficiency against the decomposition of basic dye (Rhodamine B (RhB)). The band gap of nano-catalyst was determined to be in the range of 2.61 to 3.32 eV. The introduction of Cr2S3 into Co3O4 increased the photocatalytic performance slightly, and decoration of Cr2S3-Co3O4 on PEGCS, which indicated the highest photo-degradation performance. Under the light irradiation, the active species OH and O2– radicals were important active agents in the photocatalysis process. The Cr2S3-Co3O4/PEGCS nanocomposites can maintain a stable photocatalysis performance after five cycles. Finally, the reaction mechanism of photo-degradation of RhB was put forward. The antibacterial test demonstrated the remarkable properties of Cr2S3-Co3O4/PEGCS nanocomposites in this research.