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Tuning the Crystal Phase and Morphology of the Photoluminescent Indium Sulphide Nanocrystals and Their Adsorption‐Based Catalytic and Photocatalytic Applications
Author(s) -
Sharma Rahul Kumar,
Chouryal Yogendra Nath,
Nigam Sandeep,
Saravanakumar Jeganathan,
Barik Sunita,
Ghosh Pushpal
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemistryselect
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2365-6549
DOI - 10.1002/slct.201801006
Subject(s) - methyl orange , rhodamine b , photocatalysis , materials science , tetragonal crystal system , photoluminescence , catalysis , adsorption , nanomaterials , nanoparticle , thiourea , crystallite , photochemistry , chemical engineering , crystal structure , nanotechnology , chemistry , crystallography , organic chemistry , optoelectronics , metallurgy , engineering
Phase pure quantum confined In 2 S 3 nanocrystals with high catalytic/photocatalytic efficiency are accessible solvothermally using task specific ionic liquid (IL) as structure directing agent and thiourea as sulphur source. Selective tuning of the shape, morphology and most importantly purity of the nanomaterials are controlled by changing the reaction time, IL and specially sulphur concentration. For instances, at 150 o C, when IL is used cubic phase is obtained; however in absence of IL, tetragonal phase with bigger crystallite size appears. In most of the cases In(OH) 3 is coming as an impurity; however pure In 2 S 3 with highest catalytic efficiency and band gap of 2.23 eV is achieved when 18 times sulphur concentration is used keeping other reaction parameters same. Photoluminescence emission spectra show that quantum confined pure In 2 S 3 nanoparticles are blue emitting material. Furthermore, pure In 2 S 3 nanoparticles are used for degradation of both cationic [crystal violet, methylene blue, rhodamine B] and anionic organic dyes [methyl orange]. Rate and overall catalytic efficiency are found highest for crystal violet (91%) followed by methylene blue (77%), rhodamine B (44.7%) and least for methyl orange (15.29%). Analysis reveals that along with electrostatic interaction, molecular structures of dye molecules have also significant impact on adsorption capacity which finally governs the catalytic (even in the dark) and photocatalytic efficiency of nanocrystals.