Abstract
Pseudo successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (p-SILAR) is an emerging technique for deposition of quantum dots (QDs) on a variety of nanoparticles (NPs); however, it has a limitation of wastage of water-based ionic precursors those are hazardous in nature as well. In this study, we have strategically ensured the removal of ionic species from aqueous solutions, by salvaging efficient metal sulfides (i.e. PbS, CdS, ZnS, CuS, Ag2S, and SnS) exhibiting 62%, 47%, 66%, 86%, 91%, and 99% degradation of Congo-red dye, respectively, resulting a reaction rate of 0.016, 0.011, 0.021, 0.034, 0,083, and 0.04 min−1. The qualitative characterization of successfully salvaged metal sulfide photocatalysts was carried out using scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), coupled with optical, crystallographic, and elemental elucidation. Importantly, residual aqueous ionic solutions were detoxified and water was brought back to its pure and drinkable state, avowing the standardization of wastewater treatment bi-effectually. Specifically, anionic precursors having pH value of ~ 12 and cationic precursors of SnCl2 and Pb(NO3)2 having pH values of ~ 4 were taken to 7.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abbas MA, Basit MA, Yoon SJ et al (2017) Revival of solar paint concept: air-processable solar paints for the fabrication of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells. J Phys Chem C 121:17658–17670. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b05207
Arulmozhi KT, Mythili N (2013) Studies on the chemical synthesis and characterization of lead oxide nanoparticles with different organic capping agents. AIP Adv 3:122122. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4858419
Ashiq MN, Irshad S, Ehsan MF et al (2017) Visible-light active tin selenide nanostructures: synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity. New J Chem 41:14689–14695. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7NJ04030J
Aziz MI, Mughal F, Naeem HM et al (2019) Evolution of photovoltaic and photocatalytic activity in anatase-TiO2 under visible light via simplistic deposition of CdS and PbS quantum-dots. Mater Chem Phys 229:508–513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2019.03.042
Basit MA, Abbas MA, Jung ES et al (2017) Improved light absorbance and quantum-dot loading by macroporous TiO2 photoanode for PbS quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells. Mater Chem Phys 196:170–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2017.03.057
Basit MA, Butt MM, Nazir M, Ashiq MN (2019) Conjunction of macroporosity and NH4F treatment for improved performance of TiO2 photoanode in quantum-dot sensitized solar cells. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 30:1861–1869. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-018-0458-2
Baudonnet L, Pere D, Michaud P et al (2002) Effect of dispersion stirring speed on the particle size distribution and rheological properties of carbomer dispersions and gels. J Dispers Sci Technol 23:499–510. https://doi.org/10.1081/DIS-120014018
Bhat TS, Mali SS, Sheikh AD et al (2017) TiO2/PbS/ZnS heterostructure for panchromatic quantum dot sensitized solar cells synthesized by wet chemical route. Opt Mater 73:781–792. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2017.09.041
Chaki SH, Tailor JP, Deshpande MP (2014) Covellite CuS—Single crystal growth by chemical vapour transport (CVT) technique and characterization. Mater Sci Semicond Process 27:577–585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mssp.2014.07.038
Cui J, Zhang Z, Jiang H et al (2019a) Ultrahigh recovery of fracture strength on mismatched fractured amorphous surfaces of silicon carbide. ACS Nano 13:7483–7492. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.9b02658
Cui J, Zhang Z, Liu D et al (2019b) Unprecedented piezoresistance coefficient in strained silicon carbide. Nano Lett 19:6569–6576. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b02821
Doak J, Gupta RK, Manivannan K et al (2010) Effect of particle size distributions on absorbance spectra of gold nanoparticles. Physica E 42:1605–1609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physe.2010.01.004
Fthenakis V (2009) Sustainability of photovoltaics: the case for thin-film solar cells. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 13:2746–2750
Fu X, Pan Y, Wang X, Lombardi JR (2011) Quantum confinement effects on charge-transfer between PbS quantum dots and 4-mercaptopyridine. J Chem Phys 134:024707. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3523646
Galiński M, Lewandowski A, Stępniak I (2006) Ionic liquids as electrolytes. Electrochim Acta 51:5567–5580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2006.03.016
Gao R, Wang L, Teti R et al (2015) Cloud-enabled prognosis for manufacturing. CIRP Ann 64:749–772. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cirp.2015.05.011
Ghosh B, Das M, Banerjee P, Das S (2008) Fabrication and optical properties of SnS thin films by SILAR method. Appl Surf Sci 254:6436–6440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2008.04.008
Hammad TM, Shallah AM, Salem JK (2018) Optical properties of Mg- and Ni- doped Ag2S colloidal nanoparticles. J Korean Phys Soc 73:616–621. https://doi.org/10.3938/jkps.73.616
Hassan FU, Ahmed U, Muhyuddin M et al (2019) Tactical modification of pseudo-SILAR process for enhanced quantum-dot deposition on TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles for solar energy applications. Mater Res Bull 120:110588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2019.110588
Jang E, Kim DW, Hong SH et al (2019) Visible light-driven g-C3N4@ZnO heterojunction photocatalyst synthesized via atomic layer deposition with a specially designed rotary reactor. Appl Surf Sci 487:206–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2019.05.035
Johnston KP, Chlistunoff JB (1998) Neutralization of acids and bases in subcritical and supercritical water: acetic acid and HCl. J Supercrit Fluids 12:155–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0896-8446(97)00049-1
Kamat PV (2008) Quantum dot solar cells. Semiconductor nanocrystals as light harvesters. J Phys Chem C 112:18737–18753. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp806791s
Kato T, Hakari Y, Ikeda S et al (2015) Utilization of metal sulfide material of (CuGa)1–xZn2xS2 solid solution with visible light response in photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical solar water splitting systems. J Phys Chem Lett 6:1042–1047. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.5b00137
Kim CS, Choi SH, Bang JH (2014) New insight into copper sulfide electrocatalysts for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells: composition-dependent electrocatalytic activity and stability. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 6:22078–22087. https://doi.org/10.1021/am505473d
Kryukov AI, Stroyuk AL, Zinchuk NN et al (2004) Optical and catalytic properties of Ag2S nanoparticles. J Mol Catal A Chem 221:209–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2004.07.009
Lee Y-L, Lo YS (2009) Highly efficient quantum-dot-sensitized solar cell based on co-sensitization of CdS/CdSe. Adv Func Mater 19:604–609. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.200800940
Lee HJ, Bang J, Park J et al (2010) Multilayered semiconductor (CdS/CdSe/ZnS)-sensitized TiO2 mesoporous solar cells: all prepared by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction processes. Chem Mater 22:5636–5643. https://doi.org/10.1021/cm102024s
Li X, Wu Y, Zhang S et al (2016) CsPbX3 quantum dots for lighting and displays: room-temperature synthesis, photoluminescence superiorities, underlying origins and white light-emitting diodes. Adv Func Mater 26:2435–2445. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201600109
Li Z, Sun L, Liu Y et al (2019) SnSe@SnO2 core–shell nanocomposite for synchronous photothermal–photocatalytic production of clean water. Environ Sci: Nano 6:1507–1515. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EN00149B
Lin S-C, Lee Y-L, Chang C-H et al (2007) Quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells: assembly of CdS-quantum-dots coupling techniques of self-assembled monolayer and chemical bath deposition. Appl Phys Lett 90:143517–143517. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2721373
Lindroos S, Arnold A, Leskelä M (2000) Growth of CuS thin films by the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method. Appl Surf Sci 158:75–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-4332(99)00582-6
Ma H, Han J, Fu Y et al (2011) Synthesis of visible light responsive ZnO–ZnS/C photocatalyst by simple carbothermal reduction. Appl Catal B 102:417–423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2010.12.014
Mughal F, Muhyuddin M, Rashid M et al (2019) Multiple energy applications of quantum-dot sensitized TiO2/PbS/CdS and TiO2/CdS/PbS hierarchical nanocomposites synthesized via p-SILAR technique. Chem Phys Lett 717:69–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cplett.2019.01.010
Muhyuddin M, Ahsan MT, Ali I et al (2019) A new insight into solar paint concept: regeneration of CuS nanoparticles for paintable counter electrodes in QDSSCs. Appl Phys A 125:716. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-019-3009-7
Nair MTS, Nair PK (1991) Simplified chemical deposition technique for good quality SnS thin films. Semicond Sci Technol 6:132–134. https://doi.org/10.1088/0268-1242/6/2/014
Nazir M, Aziz MI, Ali I, Basit MA (2019) Revealing antimicrobial and contrasting photocatalytic behavior of metal chalcogenide deposited P25-TiO2 nanoparticles. Photonics Nanostruct Fundam Appl 36:100721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.photonics.2019.100721
Nicolau YF (1985) Solution deposition of thin solid compound films by a successive ionic-layer adsorption and reaction process. Appl Surf Sci 22–23:1061–1074. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-5963(85)90241-7
Nsm M, Ca U et al (2018) Quantum dots processed by SILAR for solar cell applications. Sol Energy 163:256–270
Özduğan E, Andak B, Bulutçu N et al (2014) Ternary phase diagrams of CdSO4–NiSO4–H2O at 40 °C and 80 °C. Fluid Phase Equilib 381:67–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fluid.2014.08.023
Pesika NS, Stebe KJ, Searson PC (2003) Relationship between absorbance spectra and particle size distributions for quantum-sized nanocrystals. J Phys Chem B 107:10412–10415. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp0303218
Poornaprakash B, Amaranatha Reddy D, Murali G et al (2013) Composition dependent room temperature ferromagnetism and PL intensity of cobalt doped ZnS nanoparticles. J Alloy Compd 577:79–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.04.106
Ravichandran K, Porkodi S (2018) Addressing the issue of under-utilization of precursor material in SILAR process: Simultaneous preparation of CdS in two different forms—thin film and powder. Mater Sci Semicond Process 81:30–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mssp.2018.02.037
Rogers RD (2007) Reflections on ionic liquids. Nature 447:917–918. https://doi.org/10.1038/447917a
Saranya M, Santhosh C, Ramachandran R et al (2014) Hydrothermal growth of CuS nanostructures and its photocatalytic properties. Powder Technol 252:25–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2013.10.031
Seddon K (2003) Seddon, K. R. Ionic liquids: a taste of the future. Nat Mater 2:363–365. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat907
Senthamilselvi V, Ravichandran K, Saravanakumar K (2013) Influence of immersion cycles on the stoichiometry of CdS films deposited by SILAR technique. J Phys Chem Solids 74:65–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpcs.2012.07.020
Şerifaki K, Böke H, Yalçın Ş, İpekoğlu B (2009) Characterization of materials used in the execution of historic oil paintings by XRD, SEM-EDS, TGA and LIBS analysis. Mater Charact 60:303–311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2008.09.016
Serrano T, Gómez I (2015) Synthesis of PbS/Cu2S/ZnS nanoparticles and their optical properties. J Vac Sci Technol, B 33:02B111. https://doi.org/10.1116/1.4906483
Singh V, Chauhan P (2009) Structural and optical characterization of CdS nanoparticles prepared by chemical precipitation method. J Phys Chem Solids 70:1074–1079. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpcs.2009.05.024
Tanveer M, Cao C, Ali Z et al (2014) Template free synthesis of CuS nanosheet-based hierarchical microspheres: an efficient natural light driven photocatalyst. CrystEngComm 16:5290–5300. https://doi.org/10.1039/C4CE00090K
Tong H, Ouyang S, Bi Y et al (2012) Nano-photocatalytic materials: possibilities and challenges. Adv Mater Weinheim 24:229–251. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201102752
Tsukigase H, Suzuki Y, Berger M-H et al (2011) Synthesis of SnS nanoparticles by SILAR method for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 11:1914–1922. https://doi.org/10.1166/jnn.2011.3582
Tubtimtae A, Wu K-L, Tung H-Y et al (2010) Ag2S quantum dot-sensitized solar cells. Electrochem Commun 12:1158–1160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2010.06.006
Ubale AU, Sangawar VS, Kulkarni DK (2007) Size dependent optical characteristics of chemically deposited nanostructured ZnS thin films. Bull Mater Sci 30:147–151. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-007-0026-5
Wang L, Song H-W, Liu Z-X et al (2015) Core–shell CdS:Ga–ZnTe: Sb p–n nano-heterojunctions: fabrication and optoelectronic characteristics. J Mater Chem C 3:2933–2939. https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TC02943G
Wang B, Zhang Z, Chang K et al (2018) New Deformation-induced nanostructure in silicon. Nano Lett 18:4611–4617. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b01910
Xu X, Bullock J, Schelhas LT et al (2016) Chemical bath deposition of p-type transparent, highly conducting (CuS)x:(ZnS)1–x nanocomposite thin films and fabrication of Si heterojunction solar cells. Nano Lett 16:1925–1932. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b05124
Yang L, Guan X, Wang G-S et al (2017) Synthesis of ZnS/CuS nanospheres loaded on reduced graphene oxide as high-performance photocatalysts under simulated sunlight irradiation. New J Chem 41:5732–5744. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7NJ00801E
Yang F, Tian X, Zhang K et al (2018) The morphology-property effect and synergetic catalytic effect of CdS as electrocatalysts for dye-sensitized solar cells. ECS J Solid State Sci Technol 7:P311–P316. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0111806jss
Zhang Z, Huo F, Zhang X, Guo D (2012a) Fabrication and size prediction of crystalline nanoparticles of silicon induced by nanogrinding with ultrafine diamond grits. Scripta Mater 67:657–660. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2012.07.016
Zhang Z, Song Y, Xu C, Guo D (2012b) A novel model for undeformed nanometer chips of soft-brittle HgCdTe films induced by ultrafine diamond grits. Scripta Mater 67:197–200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2012.04.017
Zhang Z, Huo Y, Guo D (2013) A model for nanogrinding based on direct evidence of ground chips of silicon wafers. Sci China Technol Sci 56:2099–2108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-013-5286-2
Zhang M, Xu Y, Gong Z et al (2015a) Enhanced charge collection and photocatalysis performance of CdS and PbS nanoclusters co-sensitized TiO2 porous film. J Alloy Compd 649:190–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2015.07.145
Zhang Z, Guo D, Wang B et al (2015b) A novel approach of high speed scratching on silicon wafers at nanoscale depths of cut. Scientific Reports 5:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep16395
Zhang Z, Cui J, Wang B et al (2017) A novel approach of mechanical chemical grinding. J Alloy Compd 726:514–524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.08.024
Zhang Z, Shi Z, Du Y et al (2018) A novel approach of chemical mechanical polishing for a titanium alloy using an environment-friendly slurry. Appl Surf Sci 427:409–415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.08.064
Zhang Z, Cui J, Zhang J et al (2019) Environment friendly chemical mechanical polishing of copper. Appl Surf Sci 467–468:5–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2018.10.133
Zhuang T-T, Fan F-J, Gong ML, Yu S-H (2012) Cu(1.94)S nanocrystal seed mediated solution-phase growth of unique Cu2S-PbS heteronanostructures. Chem Commun 48:9762–9764. https://doi.org/10.1039/c2cc35062a
Zoha S, Ahmad M, Zaidi SJA et al (2020) ZnO-based mutable Ag2S/Ag2O multilayered architectures for organic dye degradation and inhibition of E. coli and B. subtilis. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2020.112472
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
ZT: conceptualization, methodology, writing—original draft, software. SZ: visualization, methodology, writing—original draft. WA: investigation, formal analysis. TJP: formal analysis (revision), writing—review and editing. MAB: Correspondence, validation, resources, writing—review and editing, validation, supervision.
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tariq, Z., Zahid, S., Ahmad, W. et al. Strategic separation of metal sulfides from residual wet-chemical precursors for synchronous production of pure water and nanostructured photocatalysts. Appl Nanosci 10, 2303–2314 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-020-01387-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-020-01387-x