Preparation and characterization FeS₂ quantum dots -SnO₂/MWCNTs nanocomposites for photocatalytic process with response surface methodology

Abstract

Iron sulfide (FeS₂) quantum dots (QDs) on tin dioxide (SnO₂) anchored multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a new photocatalysts were prepared by simple precipitation method. The prepared catalyst was characterized by Dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–visible spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The size of FeS₂-SnO₂ and FeS₂-SnO₂/MWCNTs was obtained 35.0 and 36.0 nm, respectively. The crystallite size of SnO₂ and FeS₂ QDs-SnO₂ has been estimated as 20.2, and 22.1 nm, respectively. The photocatalytic efficiency of the FeS₂ QDs, FeS₂ QDs-SnO₂ and FeS₂ QDs-SnO₂/MWCNTs nanocomposites were investigated by the decomposition of methyl orange (MO) as an organic dye under ultraviolet light irradiation. The FeS₂ QDs, FeS₂ QDs-SnO₂ and FeS₂ QDs-SnO₂/MWCNTs nanocomposites indicated a high photocatalytic influence at pH 3.0 and within 60 min. The photocatalytic results represented that the photocatalytic efficiency of FeS₂ QDs-SnO₂/MWCNTs nanocomposites was higher than other the prepared nano-photocatalyst.

Keywords:

• FeS2 quantum dots
• tin dioxide
• MWCNTs
• Photocatalytic activity
• UV light

Acknowledgment

The authors’ gratitude the Central Tehran Branch from Islamic Azad University for supplying the possibility to carry out of this research study.